New Zealand National Film Unit Movies

Set in post-war (1949) rural New Zealand, this film traces the efforts of two con men to run a betting scam in a small town (Tainuea) already rife wit...

On Christmas Eve, a nameless little girl reads 'The Monster's Christmas' storybook to her teddy bear, as something sneaks around in the trees outside...

The short tells the story of a drunkard going through alcohol withdrawal, as personified by the Devil. Director Bob Stenhouse takes what could be a da...

The men of the The 28th (Māori) Battalion are seen returning to Wellington Harbour from WWII aboard the ship Dominion Monarch after their time spent s...

The same night as a girl is slain in the woods, the teenagers Sam and Les are robbed of all of their hard earned hens. In the quest for their hens the...

Expat Kiwi Rewi Alley became one of the best known foreigners in 20th Century China and advocate for the Communist Revolution. When China was under si...

A documentary following the attempt by three young people to be the first windsurfers to cross Cook Strait.

Three young people set off on a road trip from Wellington to find a seal colony.

An award-winning short exploring man-made impacts on New Zealand’s water cycle.

Directed by Sam Pillsbury, this 1974 film observes Ralph Hotere — one of New Zealand’s greatest artists — at a moment when excitement is gathering abo...

A documentary about the New Zealand theatre troupe "Red Mole".

Three Brits travel and settle down in New Zealand, and the film records their hopes, jobs, challenges, and adventures in the new country.

A short documentary about freestyle skiing made for the New Zealand Tourist and Publicity Department.

This 1981 NFU film is a tour of the contemporary world of Aotearoa’s tangata whenua. It won headlines over claims that its portrayal of Māori had been...

A primer on proper phone manners produced for the New Zealand Post Office.

Examines the practical philosophy, the achievements and frustrations of one of New Zealand's most lively and innovative architects, Ian Athfield. The...

A documentary about New Zealanders in Antarctica: researching International Geophysical Year, and supporting the Trans-Antarctic Expedition by laying...

An educational short made by the New Zealand National Film Unit for the National Mountain Safety Council to promote awareness of bush safety.

A visual essay on contemporary Kiwi architecture.

Road safety instructional film using child actors and amusing animals.