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?

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.

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 .

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.

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.

This episode looks at fashion. The Benson and Hedges Fashion Awards, and the World of Wearable Arts.

New Zealand series, made for the launch of TVNZ's Heartland channel, which looks back through five decades at 50 years of television.

This episode looks at Top Town television series.

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.

Fiona Pardington's fields of investigation have been psychoanalysis, medicine, voyeurism, memory and the body, the history of the photographic image and the nature of the relationship between the photographer and subject, particularly as it relates to sexual difference, through the ambiguities of a simultaneous solicitation and resistance. She is best known as a specialist in "pure" or analogue photographic darkroom technique, most notably hand printing and toning. Recently her photographs have returned to the formality of the photographic still life, particularly in relationship to taonga (treasured) artifacts found in museums. Mauria mai, tono ano is a series of evocative photographs on ancestral greenstone heitiki photographed from the collection of the Auckland Museum. The foetal-like heitiki carry the whakapapa (geneology) of geographical points in Te Wai Ponnamu (South Island), offering limitless ways of seeing traditional objects through contemporary eyes. A suite of her Heitiki are being gifted to the Musee du Quai Branly in Paris by the New Zealand government. Pardington has received many fellowships, residencies, awards and grants, including the Ngai Tahu residency at Otago polytechnic 2006 , Frances Hodgkins Fellow in both 1996 & 97, Visa Gold Art Award 1997 and The Moet & Chandon Fellow, France, 1991-92. An extensive exhibition history both locally and internationally includes the recent exhibition in Valencia at the Casa Museo Benlliure, ULTRAMarte, Contemporary Art From New Zealand. Selected public shows include Te Hei Tiki Auckland City Gallery 2005, Public/Private The 2nd Auckland Triennial 2004, and the Arts and Industry Urban Biennial, 2004

A prolific and successful playwright, Roger Hall has consistently written for the stage. He has also written scripts for radio and television, and for children. Hall's writing is known for its comedy, political and social purpose, and underlying pathos. His plays have toured widely and have been performed at international venues. His biggest success was with Middle Age Spread that ran for 18 months in London's West End and won the award for Comedy of the Year (1979). Hall has been the recipient of awards and fellowships in recognition of his work. He published an autobiography, Bums on Seats, in 1998. Screened on Artsville, TV One (TVNZ) 2006.

A rare insight into one of New Zealand's best-loved and most colourful literary figures - poet Hone Tuwhare. Also known as 'No Other Lips'.

A documentary about acclaimed New Zealand author Margaret Mahy, examines her life as a writer, the importance of New Zealand settings on her work; and the international success she's enjoyed.

Adventures in Maoriland - The Making of Hei Tiki. Having exploited and offended Maori when in NZ in 1928 to make his film Under the Southern Cross, Hollywood director Alexander Markey returned two years later to make Hei Tiki, spending about four years around Taupo in the process and upsetting everyone all over again. The film, based on a Maori legend, was panned upon its New York release in 1935. This documentary tells the remarkable story of the making of Hei Tiki, and includes clips from the film, footage of the cast and crew at work, and interviews with descendants of the actors.

What has been the recent Maori experience? We pick up the tale from the urbanisation of the 50s onwards, the 'Maori renaissance', the awakening of activism, treaty settlements and corporatisation. Presented, written, and produced by Damian Christie.

The Pacific Ocean supplies over 60 per cent of the world's tuna consumption, but at what cost? The most valuable stocks of Pacific tuna are already in an over-fished state, while the big eye tuna and the blue fin tuna are in danger of extinction. Enter Kiwi eco-warrior Karli Thomas and her crew, as they patrol the Pacific high seas, battling plunder and piracy to save Pacific tuna stocks from destruction. Karli Thomas And The Raiders Of The Last Tuna follows the protesters on a three month voyage to the world's most remote stretches of ocean - the Pacific high seas. It is in these international waters that thousands of legal and illegal vessels are racing to take as much as they can of the dwindling tuna population. Karli and her fellow eco-warriors put their lives on the line to search for outright piracy and unlicensed ships. Along the way, they find increasing signs of the effects of over-fishing and dodgy fishing practices such as shark finning. It's the Wild West for the world's fishing fleets, and the last frontier for tuna.

In June 1886 Mt Tarawera spectacularly erupted, and this documentary tells the story of the people who were caught in the catastrophic events. Around 120 people lost their lives, and the internationally famous Pink and White Terraces were destroyed. The documentary features an animated re-creation of the eruption, archival images, interviews with descendants of those involved, and readings from written eyewitness accounts. The author of the book Tarawera, Ron Keam, is also interviewed.

The true story of one woman's quest to befriend and protect an extroverted wild dolphin, Moko. Filmed in the six months leading up to Moko's death, Soul in the Sea follows a journey of discovery, devastating loss, and resolution. It's a love story with a difference; breaking through the invisible wall between people and animals, celebrating the incredible experience of friendship with a lone wild dolphin, and questioning whether we are truly aware of these souls in the sea. The greatest friendships can come out of the blue. With Kirsty Carrington, Errin Hallen, Grant Duffield, Peter Cavanagh, Dave Peck, Robert Purewa, Howard Hyland, Andy Bassett, Mike Jones, Jamie Quirk, Colin Holmes, TJ Haney, Karen Esterhuizen, Martin Williams, Dr Ingrid Visser, Phil Van Dusschoten Diane Turner, Pouroto Ngaropo, John Heaphy. Amy Taylor: Director, Producer, Cinematographer, Editor, Suzanne Chisholm, Michael Parfit: Executive Producer, James Brown: Online Editor, Dick Reade: Sound mix and design, Matthew Caradus: Composer, Amit Tripuraneni: Colour correction, Colourlab Pictures, Anthony Terry: Graphic design and website

Early Days Yet is a documentary which explores the life of Allen Curnow, who was one of New Zealands greatest writers. Curnow not only won multiple New Zealand book awards and the Commonwealth Poetry Prize, he was also the first person outside of Britain to receive the Queen's Gold Medal for Poetry. Exploring Allen Curnow's distinguished life and work, this documentary is a portrait of a man who worked on the cutting edge of literature for almost 70 years.

Follows one of New Zealand's most important contemporary sculptors over six months as she develops new work, using a variety of materials and techniques. A series of conversations with Christine provides the narrative for the documentary. While concentrating on current work, Christine also revisits her iconic Country Clothesline (1972). Originally produced for Artsville series.

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.

1960s - Social Trends: New Zealand started off the 60s as a quiet farming nation with our own holy trinity of rugby, racing and beer . But overseas travel became more possible by air, and we became increasingly influenced by overseas – our first American style shopping mall opened in 1963, wine began being served in restaurants legally (The Gourmet on Shortland St). Maori were increasingly moving to the city from the country, as were a lot of other people, and when the wool prices collapsed in 1967, unemployment grew, pushing more people the city… dissatisfaction with the golden era would grow, we’d see the protest movement start to grow, and James K Baxter forming Jerusalem.

More like the good old days, when poets went on school tours. Does that happen anymore, or is everyone too busy doing tests? Here's a gem from 1979 that follows Sam Hunt, Alistair Campbell, Hone Tuwhare and Jan Kemp on a six -week tour around the country performing in halls and schools.

60s - Big Event – The Wahine: There was no single event that would remain imprinted on our collective consciousness from this decade like the sinking of the Wahine. The loss of life from a single event (53) was unparalleled in New Zealand during the 60s, and the image of the listing ferry off the coast of Wellington is a powerful symbol.

1960s - Sports & Leisure: Peter Snell got the decade off to a good start with a gold at Rome, and topped it off with a double in Tokyo in 1964, while Bob Charles and Denny Hulme both got world attention in their respective pursuits. Our outdoorsy, rural heritage was still front of mind though, and the sixties saw New Zealand establish the Golden Shears competition in 1961, Outward Bound was set up in 1962. We even had our own crack at a vehicle for the great outdoors, the kiwi made Trekka rolled off the production line in 1966.

1960s - Entertainment: Television would open New Zealand to the world, while the world would come to New Zealand. Beatlemania would hit hard with the band themselves making it here in 1964, while our very own mop-haired ravers Ray Colombus and the Invaders penned their answer to Twist & Shout that same year. Kiri te Kanawa gets her big break on the Mobil Song Quest while John Rowles breaks into the UK Top 10. By 1966 we had our own music show, C’Mon, but the Government’s firm control over the Radio Waves would send the pirates out into the Hauraki Gulf to have their music played.

1970s - Entertainment: John Rowles introduced the decade with his best known contribution to our musical landscape, Cheryl Moana Marie, but he was soon eclipsed by the voices of the 70s, the protest singers like Jon Hanlon and Shona Laing, before the emergence of rockers like Hello Sailor, Th’ Dudes and Sharon O’Neill. But TV was the star, going colour in 1973, TV2 arriving in 1975, and childhood classics such as Play School, Spot On, Nice One Stu and Hey Hey It’s Andy – in the evening we sat down to our own fare, Pukemanu, Close to Home, and Fair Go.

1970s - Social Trends: Protests and big social change were the social characteristics of the 70s. Maori were finding their voice and demanding what was theirs through the Land Marches and Bastion Point occupation. We protested racist rugby tours, dams, nuclear warship visits and the Vietnam war, and ended the Dawn Raids against Pacific Island overstayers. At the same time, significant institutions were formed, institutional safety nets like the DPB and ACC, and the Waitangi Tribunal, which would shape the kind of country we were to become.