A Political Game explores an issue whose origins are to be found in the first decades of this century. It is about the battle for the soul of New Zealand, about an affluent period in our history when internationalism was popular and idealism was affordable. In broad brush-strokes we learn the context of rugby, politics and apartheid from 1921 through to 1996 and today. What did we do, and why did we do it? What effect did we have not only on New Zealanders attitudes towards sporting and other contacts with South Africa, but on wider related issues such as New Zealand’s foreign policy? Outside South Africa itself, nowhere was the impact of that country’s racial politics greater than it was in New Zealand. What does this tell us about ourselves? Why was the New Zealand/South Africa rugby connection the subject of such an intense and protracted debate?

Filmed over the 2003 Otago University year, the documentary takes a bird's eye view of student life, making this programme in the style of a wildlife documentary and viewing student life in terms of nesting, feeding, mating and display. The documentary divides its curiosity between first-year students, or "freshers", safe in their supervised accommodation, and the more mature students, who prefer the wild life, out alone, in rented houses and flats, centred round the city's infamous main street of student life, Castle Street. Life for the learner birds seems, at first, to be one long party, as they congregate at the popular student watering holes, but eventually they settle down to study and to concentrate on the challenges of surviving a long, hard winter away from home – and on passing their exams, of course. Conceived, written & produced by Colin Hogg ; directed by Rebecca Mellor.

The true story of New Zealand Troops who served in Vietnam and fell victim to Agent Orange.

Could a remote island chain in Polynesia have been the center of a thriving civilization? New archaeological and geological evidence reveal an ancient world of human sacrifice and epic voyages.

A documentary that examines four gifted children in New Zealand; an ice skating champ, a maths genius, a chess whizz and a classical musician and composer.

For many men fatherhood is the most important role they will ever play in their entire life. And like a lot of roles in today's society, that role is changing. From the stern, authoritative and distant father of our fathers, a new man has emerged. Today's dads want to play a bigger part in raising their children. Silently they're reducing hours, juggling shifts or simply quitting work to take on the most important job of their life. Fatherhood. Real Dads revealed explores the changing role of fatherhood in New Zealand by examining the position from the point of view of the hands-on-Dad, and the generations either side of him; daughters, sons and grandfathers share their recollections and opinions. This documentary looks at where our fathers think their parenting role is headed, and what impact the changing role of Fathers is having on our children. It examines the stereotype of the cardy wearing, meek and mild househusband, and reveal dads that have taken the opportunity to play an active role in parenting, covering the whole spectrum of manhood.

Explorers is a documentary series that retraces some of the epic journeys undertaken by our early explorers as they forged their way through unmapped country across New Zealand. Four nineteenth century overland journeys provide the challenge for host Peter Elliott , who swaps the comforts of modern maritime transport, familiar to him during Captains Log, for a pair of sturdy tramping boots. Elliott picks up his backpack and plunges into some of New Zealand's most forbidding and spectacular hinterland to uncover the tracks of four of our pioneering Pakeha explorers: Episode One: Draughtsman, Charles Heaphy Episode Two: Surveyor, Thomas Brunner Episode Three: Gold Prospector, Alpheus J (George) Barrington Episode Four: Missionary, William Colenso .

In 2006, Th' Dudes reformed after 26 years. This doco follows them on a national tour as members Peter Urlich, Dave Dobbyn, Ian Morris, Lez White and Bruce Hambling reflect on their former lives as late 70s popstars. Encouraged to behave like stars, they didn't disappoint. There are frank discussions about sex, drugs, an obscene t-shirt, on-stage nudity and other bad behaviour, but also the stories behind classic songs like 'Bliss', 'Right First Time' and 'Be Mine Tonight' which still captivate adoring, if aging, audiences a quarter of a century later.

Artsville brings New Zealand art and artists to the screen with a series of vivid documentaries from a range of the country's best and independent producers, directors and writers. The season premiere, Barefoot Cinema, explores the career and life of renowned Kiwi cinematographer Alun Bollinger. Alun has worked in the New Zealand film industry for 30 years on films including River Queen, Perfect Strangers, The Frighteners, Heavenly Creatures, Vigil and Goodbye Pork Pie.

A history of public broadcasting in NZ through events that were reported live on wireless, including government attempts to jam transmission.

A documentary about author Janet Frame based on the eponymous biography by Michael King. It travels through the familiar Frame themes - her alleged mental illness, family tragedies, overseas stays, how she began writing. Its value, and fresh insight, lies in the interviews with Frame's close friends and key figures in her life. They shed light on her personality and achievements. King in particular provides a considered, often-amusing account of Frame's life. This was his last interview for film; he was killed in a car accident in 2004.

Delve into the hilarious and sometimes solemn subject of Maori humour. We explore what really makes Maori people laugh and who the faces of Maori humour are - both past and present.

Fiordland National Park: The largest national park in New Zealand and one of the largest in the world, the park covers the southwest corner of the South Island. The grandeur of its scenery, with its deep fiords, its glacial lakes, its mountains and waterfalls, make it a popular tourist destination.

A documentary about the experiences of five New Zealand women who served with the New Zealand forces during World War II.

This documentary explores life in the New Zealand Army over the past 100 years, with a special emphasis on overseas action it has been involved in, starting with the Boer War.

This documentary marks the anniversary of the bombing of the Greenpeace ship the Rainbow Warrior and traces the events surrounding its attack.

Billy Apple: enigma, con man, or artist? Being Billy Apple looks at one of New Zealand's most controversial contemporary artists: a man who changed his name, then turned himself into a brand. Director Leanne Pooley follows Apple's life, and looks at his work in the context of the development of conceptual art overseas. This 70-minute documentary sees Apple talking with the filmmaker about whether it is important his face is even seen on screen.

Sir Edmund Hillary was the only person on the planet to have stood on the top of Everest and at the North and South Poles.This is the definitive account of one of the 20th Century's greatest explorers and adventurers with Sir Edmund Hillary talking candidly about his life and the events that made him famous.

The harrowing but eventually uplifting story of Mani who is neither man nor woman. The life of intersex activist Mani Bruce Mitchell. Assigned male at birth (and named Bruce), at the age of one she was taken off to specialists who reassigned her as female. Renamed Margaret, the rural New Zealand community where she lived held a meeting to discuss the decision and to encourage everyone to keep the family's secret. At eight, without explanation, she was given the surgery that 'feminised' her. This documentary charts her discovery of the truth, choosing to own her sense of herself as neither male nor female, and follows her journey to Milwaukee to present a paper with fellow activist David Vandertie.

Ten Guitars gives warm-spirited context to the song that has been the soundtrack to countless back-lawn crate parties and freezing works chains.

This documentary looks at the grim reality of our fast-disappearing national symbol (kiwi could be extinct from the mainland in 20 years) and the inspirational efforts of people passionate about saving it.

A moving and candid look at some of the first intake of Maori pre-schoolers into the Kohanga Reo movement during the 1980s.

Life Begins at 70: A documentary in which a reporter joins in the activities of several people over 70-years of age and talks to them about the various sports they play.

Children of well-known New Zealanders discuss what it's like to live in the shadow of their parents. Featuring the children of Donna Awatere-Huata, Barry Crump, Sam Hunt, and Sir Robert Muldoon.

Parris Goebel is the girl from South Auckland making it on the L.A. music scene, hear her story.

A story of survival, comradeship, celebration, renewal and of course, rugby. Meet the men whose first success was to survive a war that divided a world. Khaki All Blacks is a television documentary that traces the links between war (Boer War through to the Second World War) and rugby.

Explorers is a documentary series that retraces some of the epic journeys undertaken by our early explorers as they forged their way through unmapped country across New Zealand. Four nineteenth century overland journeys provide the challenge for host Peter Elliott, who swaps the comforts of modern maritime transport, familiar to him during Captains Log, for a pair of sturdy tramping boots. Elliott picks up his backpack and plunges into some of New Zealand's most forbidding and spectacular hinterland to uncover the tracks of four of our pioneering Pakeha explorers.

Seraphine Pick has haunted the New Zealand art world with a constantly changing stream of emotionally charged paintings.This film follows the work and life of this prominent Wellington artist.

Transporting a big circus around the country is a logistical nightmare. See how much organisation is takes for a circus to cross the Cooks Strait.

After living together happily on a dairy farm for sometime, Lucinda and Rob's relationship begins to lose its spark. Seeking advice from her best friend, Drosophilia, Lucinda begins to start a series of minor conflicts which she hopes will stir up the romance in her relationship. But things don't go the way Lucinda expects and soon she's embroiled in a bigger mess than she began with.

The Sisters of Compassion are the only indigenous religious order in New Zealand. Founded in Jerusalem, a Maori settlement on the banks of the Whanganui River in the eighteenth century, the Sisters of Compassion have been at the forefront of social work in New Zealand. The film documents the often radical social work the Sisters have done over the last century.

Interviews this episode: King Kapisi, Hip Hop artist; Lisa Reihana, multi media artist; Kim Martinengo, furniture designer; Stephen Bradbourne, hot glass artist; Corporate art collection; Peter Siddell, painter; Emily Siddell, sculptor; Sylvia Siddell, painter; Andy Leleisi'uao, painter.

Interviews this episode: Shonagh Koea, writer in New Plymouth - reads an extract from "Time For a Killing" and "The really Good Stuff", short stories; Len Lye 1901 - 1980, Sculptor, Filmmaker, Painter, Writer. 2001 is Len Lye's Centenary Year; Sarah Sampson, artist/photographer/ teacher; Rangi Kipa, sculptor/carver and wife Julie Kipa, contemporary painter; Saint Joseph's Church, New Plymouth; Matt Henry and Stark, conceptual (blow it up) artists; Ross Mitchell-Anyon, potter - Whanganui.

Interviews this episode: Alison Quigan, Artistic Director - Counterpoint Theatre; Robert Janke, Sculptor/Art Teacher; Wellington's water fountain, Cuba Mall; Marianne Muggeridge, Painter; Grant Tilly, Actor/Artist/Box Maker; Cloud Boy - Johannes Contag, Musician / Demarnia Lloyd, Song Writer / Craig Monk, Musician

Interviews this episode: Stephen McCarthy, Hannah Beehre and Aaron Beehre, musicians from band Pine; Heather Straka, artist; Bing Dawe, sculptor; "The Clinic": Anastasia Dailianis, director/performer; Adam Hayward, conceptualist; Haydn Kerr, director/performer; Philip Trusttum, painter.

Interviews this episode: Jim Cooper, artist "New Skin" thesis research; Ann Culy, artist -Lure; Rainer Beneke, artist - Lure; Hone Tuwhare, poet; Deborah Wai-Kapohe, soprano; Sue Mclaughlin and Nigel Brown, artist.

Interviews this episode: Jacqueline Fahey - Painter; Yuk King Tan - Pyrotechnic Sculptor; Lucid 3 - Music; John Reynolds - Painter; Bushell's Sign - Chat Piece; Natalie Robertson - Photographer/video.

In the premiere episode, Dougal Stevenson looks at the 1960s - a decade of tragic disasters, social change as air travel opportunities opened up, sporting gold and Beatlemania! 1960s - The Decade in News: It was a decade of disasters – the Strongman Mine explosion killed 19, 23 died in our worst domestic civil aviation accident in 1963; 29 died when the MV Kaitawa was lost at sea, an earthquake devastated Inangahua, and of course there was the Wahine sinking. In the crime world, George Wilder became an unlikely folk hero with three prison breaks, while we were shocked by the Basset Road machine gun murders. But there were highlights too… the Lawson quins born in ’65, Brian Barratt Boyes performs our first open heart surgery, the six o’clock swill ends and we change to decimal currency.

The Vietnam War, French nuclear testing and the Dawn Raids, Land Marches and oil shocks, the 70s were a tumultuous time. The Crewe murders, Mr Asia and the ongoing mystery of Mona Blades disappearance would mark the decade in crime, while the death of Big Norm would see the election of the most divisive Prime Minister in our history, Robert Muldoon. Britain joins the EEC meaning our role as her larder was in danger, the Cold War saw Bill Sutch charged with spying for the Russians, while Colin Moyle resigned as an MP over homosexual rumours.

Biographer Michael King takes us through the life of pioneering writer Frank Sargeson: from puritanical parents to self-discovery in London, through to decades encouraging an emerging tide of New Zealand writers. The documentary's most priceless moments are the tales told when four of those writers return to Sargeson's fabled fibrolite bach, in Takapuna. Kevin Ireland calls it an "oasis, this marvellous place where books ruled supreme". Sargeson's purposefully minimalistic writing style, the documentary argues, helped NZ literature find its own voice.

This documentary allowed sufferers and their families to tell their personal stories in the daily battle against anorexia nervoa and bulimia nervosa; the signs, the struggles, the guilt, and the long road to recovery. This documentary shows anorexia is not a state of mind that can be turned off and on at will. This illness can, and does, happen to anyone. No galmourising of thinness, no using of skeletal forms; just ordinary New Zealand families caught in the grip of this tenacious, complex and often fatal illness. Dying to Eat explores the complexity of the illness, the importance of early treatment and reinforces the need for community support, understanding, and openness.