The National Film Unit (NFU) was a state-owned film-production organisation originally based in Miramar,

New Zealand New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island count ...

. 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-production facility in the country. Many people who became prominent in the development of the modern New Zealand film industry were trained by the NFU (for example, the actor

Sam Neill Sir Nigel John Dermot "Sam" Neill (born 14 September 1947) is a New Zealand actor. Neill's near-50 year career has included leading roles in both dramas and blockbusters. Considered an "international leading man", he has been regarded as one o ...

started at the NFU as a director). During

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...

, the NFU had a brief to provide war-time information and propaganda to further the war effort. The NFU produced the ''Weekly Review'', a weekly magazine-style film journal that was distributed free to New Zealand's cinemas. Other productions included short documentaries about the war effort. After the end of the war in 1945, the NFU continued with a renewed focus on "educational film" for domestic audiences as well as the projection of a favourable image of New Zealand overseas, particularly for tourism promotion as well as, to lesser extent, to attract immigrants and investment and to further trade. Notable films were ''Te Rauparaha'' about the Maori chief, '' Snows of Aorangi'' (nominated for an Oscar in 1958), '' One Hundred and Forty Days Under the World'' (nominated for an Oscar in 1964), ''A Deaf Child in the Family'', ''Amazing New Zealand'' (1963), and the three-projector wide-screen '' This is New Zealand'' for

Expo '70 The or Expo 70 was a world's fair held in Suita, Osaka Prefecture, Japan between March 15 and September 13, 1970. Its theme was "Progress and Harmony for Mankind." In Japanese, Expo '70 is often referred to as . It was the first world's fair ...

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, Japan. In 1977, the NFU and

Television New Zealand , type = Crown entity , industry = Broadcast television , num_locations = New Zealand , location = Auckland, New Zealand , area_served = Nationally (New Zealand) and some Pacific Island nations such as the Cook Islands, Fiji, and the Solo ...

co-produced ''The Governor'', a television docudrama about Sir

George Grey Sir George Grey, KCB (14 April 1812 – 19 September 1898) was a British soldier, explorer, colonial administrator and writer. He served in a succession of governing positions: Governor of South Australia, twice Governor of New Zealand, Go ...

. When the NFU was privatised in the 1990s, it was purchased by TVNZ for a paltry . When staff were told of the sale price, the triumphant management and government officials seemed somewhat surprised to be treated with a collective gasp followed by a "slow clap". TVNZ later sold the NFU studio's in Mirimar to film-maker Peter Jackson where he set up

Park Road Post Park Road Post Production is an international film and television post-production facility located in Miramar, a suburb of Wellington, New Zealand. Built out of the state-owned National Film Unit (NFU), the new facility opened upon completion i ...

References

* {{Authority control 1930s in New Zealand cinema Film organisations in New Zealand Wellington City State-owned film companies Film production companies of New Zealand

See also

References