TV FILMS ON N.Z.

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29269, 29 July 1960, Page 2

TV FILMS ON N.Z.

Use In American Programmes

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON. July 27.

New Zealand’s scenery, sporting attractions, and Maori entertainment would be seen by some 50m United States television viewers in a series of programmes beginning next October, the Minister in charge of Tourist and Health Resorts (Mr Mathison) said today. A nine-member production team from the National Broadcasting Corporation would arrive in Auckland on August 7, and with the assistance of the Tourist and Publicity Department would spend four days filming material for inclusion in three composite Pacific one-hour programmes. The first would be a “South Pacific Show,” in which New Zealand would share the honours with Tahiti, Samoa, Fiji, and Australia. Two other shows—- “ Hello World” and “Christmas Round the World,” would give additional New Zealand Coverage later in the year. “This is one of the greatest mass-audience promotions in which the Tourist and Publicity Department has yet co-operated,” the Minister said. “The N.B.C. team is collecting material throughout the Pacific, from Japan to New Zealand, spending a few days in each country,” Mr Mathison said. “Unfortunately, it will not be able to visit the South Island in the limited time available, but the National Film Unit of my department has recently filmed extensive colour sequences covering the South Island’s magnificent scenic attractions, and these will be made available for use in the television programmes. Two members of the N.B.C. party will spend some time at the unit’s studios in Wellington to select suitable material to augment the efforts of their own crew on location.”

Subjects to be filmed in the North Island included Maori artifacts at the Auckland Museum, hakas, stick games, long poi dances, action songs, and a taiaha fight in Rotorua, thermal activity in Rotorua and at Wairakei, and the spectacular formations in the Waitomo Caves. Tentative arrangements had also been made for special entertainment sequences, featuring singers and choirs.