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Roger Horrocks

Academic, Writer

Roger Horrocks has been raising the quality of debate about New Zealand film and television for nigh on half a century. At Auckland University he campaigned for, then ran, the country’s first and biggest film studies course. Horrocks has written extensively about Kiwi culture, including writing the definitive book on Len Lye. He is also a filmmaker and was a founding board member of organisation NZ On Air.

One of the most exciting times for me was the cultural explosion of the 1960s and 70s, with the emergence of a new film industry. I saw the need not only for films, but for a rich film culture with festivals, funding bodies, and film education. Lots of start-ups, and we had to fight for all of them! Roger Horrocks