Making New Zealand - Roads

In the debut episode of this documentary series, the story of Aotearoa's roads takes many dramatic turns. There's avalanches, dynamite accidents and political disputes — and that's only the Otira Gorge. Road construction has been intertwined with some of the most significant chapters of New Zealand's history, including the gold rush, the New Zealand Wars, World War ll and the Great Depression. Utilising a wealth of archival footage and expert interviews, the show explores both the engineering feats and cultural context behind projects like the Auckland Harbour Bridge — plus there are personal anecdotes to boot.

The biggest impetus for roading came with the New Zealand Wars, and the need for the British military to move large numbers of people and equipment around the country ... For example the Great South Road was set up specifically as a military supply route.

– Historian Matthew Wright, early in this documentary

Key Cast & Crew

Mark Clare

Narrator

Steven Barnett

Concept, Research

Jed Town

Composer

Mark Everton

Director, Producer

Laurie Clarke

Executive Producer

Kathy Wright

Network Executive