Passionless People

This 1976 TV2 report covers the launch of Gordon McLauchlan’s book Passionless People in Eketahuna, a town he had derided in newspaper columns as an epicentre of New Zealand conformity. Within the book’s pages the author infamously called Kiwis "smiling zombies" – lazy, smug, and a bunch of moaners. McLauchlan bravely visits the local pub, and stands in front of the 'hot pies' sign to muse about sexuality. Ex-All Black Brian Lochore is MC at the launch, where McLauchlan is put on mock trial in stocks at the town hall. Passionless People was a runaway best seller.

[McLaughlan] has some damning things to say about New Zealanders. Under the heading 'smiling zombies' he writes: "a fool is a person who doesn't know what he doesn't know, and by this definition a Kiwi is preeminently a fool."

– From the narration

Key Cast & Crew

Gordon McLauchlan

Subject