N.Z. fishing films shown in Japan

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32524, 6 February 1971, Page 8

N.Z. fishing films shown in Japan

The lure of trout fishing in New Zealand has been dangled before a Japanese television audience estimated at 50 million.

The Minister of Tourism (Mr Walker) has received advice that three 15-min colour films made by the Fukuhara Film Company had been shown on the Fuji television network on consecutive Saturday evenings at the prime 8 p.m. viewing time. Repeat transmissions for later this year also had been arranged. The subjects of the films

were lake fishing and river fishing in the North Island and a combination of both in the South Island, with emphasis on the use of jet boats. “This publicity is the result of the good working relationship which has developed between the Fukuhara Film Company and the Tourist and Publicity Department over a number of years,” Mr Walker said. “Fukuhara Films have previously gained valuable publicity for New Zealand with a series on ski-ing and one of the films made for that series ‘Mysterious White Land,’ is regarded by many people as one of the best ski-ing films ever made,” he said.

“The latest fishing series was made with the co-opera-tion of the National Film Unit and one of the department’s hunting and fishing officers.

“The fishing sequences for the films were shot at Lake Taupo, the Tongariro River, the Waimakariri River and Lake Brunner on the West Coast, where one of the Japanese actors was presented with a prize by the owner of Moana Kotuku Lodge for catching the five-hundredth fish of the season.

“In addition to its fishing sequences the unit also took a number of scenic shots, including some at Wellington and Christchurch, which were used to introduce the films,” said Mr Walker.