Edifice

This 1993 documentary, screened as part of TV One's Work of Art series, discusses the key people, buildings and decisions that played a major role in the New Zealand heritage movement at the time. Narrated by veteran actor Elizabeth MacRae and hosted by heritage consultant Di Stewart, Edifice examines the efforts — or in some cases, the lack of — to preserve the historic buildings and cultural character of Dunedin, Palmerston North, Napier, Thames and Auckland. The film is full of beautiful shots of historic sites and nostalgic footage of New Zealand cities in the early 90s. 

In the early days here, quite well-known people used to apologise for this building because it wasn't like what you saw in England, but we felt that was a good thing because this isn't England, in fact it's a long way from England.

– Larnach Castle owner Margaret Barker on Dunedin's Larnach Castle

Key Cast & Crew

Elizabeth McRae

Narrator

Caterina De Nave

Executive Producer

Anthony Ioasa

Composer

Margaret Palmer

Editor

Wayne Vinten

Cinematographer

David Jacobs

Director, Producer