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Footage from National Film Unit films. For more information contact Archives NZ at research.archives@dia.govt.nz.
- 11 min
- 2.6K
- Archives New Zealand
Jan 29, 2024 · National Film Unit Collection. Welcome to the National Film Unit (NFU) Collection. Here you can look through the NFU listings and search for specific films. This page lists the NFU holdings at Archives NZ from 1941-1989. All NFU films are also listed on Collections search.
Celebrating the 75th anniversary of government filmmakers the National Film Unit, this collection pulls highlights from the 370+ wartime newsreels, tourism promos and Oscar nominees from the NFU which can be watched on NZ On Screen.
The National Film Unit (NFU) was a state-owned film-production organisation originally based in Miramar, New Zealand. Founded in 1936 when the government took over a private film studio, Filmcraft, the NFU produced newsreels, documentaries and promotional films about New Zealand, and for many years was the only significant film ...
- Beginnings
- World War II
- Establishment of The NFU
- Birth of The Weekly Review
- Birth of The Pictorial Parade
- Significant Films
- Nurturing New Zealand Talent
- 1960s – 1980s
The National Film Unit (NFU) was one of New Zealand’s main producers of films during the mid-twentieth century. It was responsible for much of the footage that now documents and represents these decades of New Zealand history. Established in 1941 as part of the war effort, it played a vital part in the development and culture of New Zealand’s film ...
New Zealand’s involvement in World War Two heralded a new era for government film. The quality of war newsreels produced by other countries such as the United Kingdom and Canada impressed government officials in New Zealand. In 1940 the New Zealand government invited John Grierson, founder of the British documentary movement, to discuss the establi...
The NFU was formally established in a cabinet minute in August 1941. Its purpose was to help publicise the war effort and highlight New Zealand's participation in the war both overseas and on the home front. Film was one of the most popular forms of entertainment during this period and cinema attendance throughout the country was extremely high. By...
Throughout the 1940s the NFU also produced a regular newsreel, the ‘Weekly Review’, which screened in cinemas around the country. The ‘Weekly Review’ was a magazine-style series, often a collection of 3-4 individual stories on different topics. At other times it presented more in-depth coverage of a single story. During the war the ‘Weekly Reviews’...
A change in government at the end of the 1940s heralded changes to the administration of the Unit and tighter political control over its output. In 1950 the ‘Weekly Review’ series was cancelled amidst budget concerns and allegations of political bias. It was replaced in 1952 by the monthly ‘Pictorial Parade’ series. ‘Pictorial Parade’ followed a si...
The NFU also produced many stand-alone films for theatrical production, some of which enjoyed critical success overseas and won international film prizes. ‘Amazing New Zealand’ (1964), directed by Ronald Bowie, won five film prizes between 1963-1968 and was viewed by over 80 million people in 47 countries. Hugh Macdonald’s spectacular ‘This Is New ...
The output and influence of the NFU helped shape New Zealand’s emerging film industry, leading to the thriving film culture that exists today. The NFU acted as a training ground for many New Zealand film makers and actors including Sam Neill, Paul Maunder, Ian Mune, Bruno Lawrence, Sam Pillsbury, and Hugh Macdonald. Many well-known New Zealand arti...
The arrival of television in New Zealand in 1960 meant film no longer had a monopoly on audiences. The establishment of the New Zealand Broadcasting Corporation (later TVNZ) gave the NFU increased demand for its processing facilities. However, in the long term this created competition for staff and resources, despite ongoing efforts to merge the tw...
Mar 31, 2024 · New Zealand’s National Film Unit presents ‘Pictorial Parade no. 56' (1956)THE CATHEDRAL IN THE SQUARE Early pictures of Christchurch Cathedral during its bui...
- 11 min
- 354
- Archives New Zealand
Jul 22, 2021 · New Zealand’s National Film Unit presents 'The Young Giant Kaingaroa' (1966) One of the biggest exotic forests in the world, Kaingaroa covers 500 square miles, and produces annually 50...
- 20 min
- 24.4K
- Archives New Zealand
