The Early Days

Made for the Post Office, this 1971 National Film Unit documentary offers a potted history of New Zealand, using postage stamps as the frame. Director David Sims ranges from Māori rock drawings, to Tasman and Cook. Once Pākehā settlers arrive, the film offers a narrative of progress (aside from two world wars) leading to nationhood and industry. Archive photographs, paintings, Edwardian-era scenes and reenactments add to the subjects illustrated on the stamps. The stamps include New Zealand’s first: a full-face portrait of Queen Victoria by Alfred Edward Chalon.

But how could you be at one with those who grabbed whole horizons of your tribal lands?

– From the narration, on events leading to the Land Wars

Key Cast & Crew

David Sims

Editor, Writer, Director

David H Fowler

Producer

Geoffrey Scott

Executive Producer

Peter Jones

Optical Effects

Val Federoff

Sound

Swami Hansa

Camera