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New Zealanders have a chance to see a significant part of our television history as the first episode of the landmark historical drama series The Governor has today been added to NZ On Screen.
NZ On Screen Content Director Irene Gardiner says The Governor is one of the most important titles to be added to the website. “The series was our first historical blockbuster, it was absolutely huge in production scale, and also stirred up huge controversy. It was kind of like New Zealand’s War and Peace. There really hasn’t been anything quite like it since.”
The Governor examined the life of Governor George Grey in six thematic parts. English actor Corin Redgrave played Grey, supported by an all-star cast of Kiwi talent, including George Henare, Martyn Sanderson, Don Selwyn, and Grant Tilly.
The Governor was made in 1976, and Gardiner says the epic colonial drama was a massive undertaking for that time. The unprecedented production scale placed serious demands on the NZBC/National Film Unit co-production as there was no similar local model back then.
“It was probably a miracle the series got to air, and when it did – in 1977 – it was hugely controversial.
“Prime Minister Robert Muldoon, perhaps smarting from infamous run-ins with the state broadcaster’s journalists, really set the bloodhounds on the trail of the series.
“He questioned the appropriateness of the budget, and despite there being other expensive period dramas made at the same time, such as Hunter’s Gold, The Governor was singled out by a government razor-gang looking to slash costs. Claims the series had cost more than a million dollars made front-page news.”
Producer/director Tony Isaac and writers Michael Noonan and Keith Aberdein made up the main creative team behind The Governor. Noonan told NZ On Screen he felt a lot of the controversy surrounding the series was fanned by members of the fledgling feature film industry in the late 1970s, who were annoyed that so much Government money had gone to a television production.
The Governor received mixed reviews when it screened. Some reviewers felt it was something of an ambitious failure, but the series won the 1978 Feltex Award for Best Drama, and is now remembered as an extraordinary achievement for its time.
Gardiner says that as well as the epic production scale, The Governor was also significant because it challenged the accepted Pakeha version of history that Grey was the “Good Governor.”
“The series incorporated a Maori perspective and revealed that while Grey was a figurehead for the new colony, he was also a less than perfect figure. In that sense, the series was quite ahead of its time.
“Whatever its imperfections and controversies at the time, The Governor has certainly gone down in New Zealand television history as one of our most legendary programmes.”
Gardiner said it had taken some time to clear episode one of the series, but NZ On Screen was hopeful other episodes would be added to the website in time. “I think this it is really significant for our television industry and our popular culture that people can now see the series free on NZ On Screen. There will be a whole generation of New Zealanders who will be able to see The Governor for the first time.”
Here at NZ On Screen we get the privilege of seeing some amazing behind the scenes shots pulled out of The Dominion Post and Onfilm archives. We load them into the site, but they are scattered amongst the relevant titles – so here is a selection of some of our favourite glimpses behind-the-scenes.
The Blerta Bus – Bruno Lawrence in the center with the drums. This appears in the Blerta Revisited Gallery. Kindly provided by The Dominion Post.
This photo comes from behind the scenes of Bad Taste – On the roof is Mike Minnett, holding the clapper is Peter Usher, the actor is Terry Potter and holding the camera is Peter Jackson. Kindly supplied by Onfilm.
This shot is a photo on the set of Gloss – The Redferns house! This is where the wedding takes place in the first episode of Gloss. Kindly supplied by The Dominion Post.
A rare photo of Temuera Morrison training for Once Were Warriors with the late great Robert Bruce. Kindly supplied by The Dominion Post.
NZ On Screen’s latest monthly Top 10 illustrates New Zealanders’ enduring love for nostalgia titles.
Blerta, Billy T and Gloss are all in our March Top 10 most viewed titles. Classic John Britten and Peter Snell documentaries take the number one and two spots in the Top 10, mainly because they get a lot of international hits through motorbike and athletics club websites. An early episode of the sketch comedy series Skitz comes in at number 10, because of the presence in the cast of one Jemaine Clement from Flight of the Conchords. And if you are wondering what “Monkey Tale” is at number five, then visit the NZ On Screen site to have a look. It has to be seen to be believed!
1. Britten – Backyard Visionary (1993)
2. Peter Snell – Athlete (1964)
3. Blerta Revisited (2001)
4. Billy T Live (1990)
5. Monkey Tale (1952)
6. Gloss (1987)
7. The New Zealand Wars (1998)
8. The Piano (1993)
9. Once Were Warriors (1994)
10. Skitz (1998)
Last month NZ On Screen attended ‘A day in the life of a digital learning resource: from access to reuse’ which was run by the Ministry of Education.
“From simple sound bites to sophisticated 3D imaging technology, New Zealand educators are increasingly using digital and web-based resources to support learning.
A day in the life of a digital learning resource brings together experts and practitioners from all areas of this field to explore the latest and best practice in using and reusing these instructional tools.”
NZ On Screen took part in the showcase which allowed conference goers to experience some web-based education resources first hand. Some of the other websites involved in the showcase were:
- Te Ara - The New Zealand Online Encyclopedia
- Any Questions – a site which offers help with homework and researching skills for kids through instant messaging
- Digital New Zealand – a site which aims to make New Zealand content easy to find, share and use.
The response that NZ On Screen received was very positive, it was fantastic to talk to teachers and education professionals about how NZ On Screen could be used in an education environment.
So with that in mind here are a few titles of interest!
- Patu! – An extraordinary film about the 1981 Springbok protests.
- Getting to our Place – An excerpt from the documentary about the creation of Te Papa – The National Museum of New Zealand.
- Godzone Sheep – A wry tribute to sheep in NZ culture
- Moa’s Ark – David Bellamy goes on a four part journey of New Zealand’s landscape, flora and fauna.
- When a Warrior Dies - A documentary that talks about not only the bombing of the Rainbow Warrior but about the efforts of Greenpeace and artist Chris Booth to create a sense of emotional closure.
NZ On Screen at the showcase.
