The Film Archive Medianet

The New Zealand Film Archive's programme is the latest addition to The Dowse Lounge.

“For almost 30 years the Film Archive has collected and protected our unique film and television history,” says Film Archive Chief Executive Frank Stark. “But all that work would be pointless if we didn’t make sure people could still see it.”  

Through state-of-the-art digital video technology, the Film Archive's new viewing facility offers high-quality, full-screen and full-length versions of over 500 classic film and video titles with a click of the mouse.  The content selected is an eclectic mix of feature films, short films, documentaries, home movies, newsreels, music videos and advertisements, spanning over 100 years of New Zealand cinema and television. Unhindered by unreliable broadband capability and the risk of illegal downloads, medianet provides immediate access to film and video at much better quality than YouTube or other web-based sources - and with the full support of the producers.   

Project Manager Diane McAllen says, “The clips on medianet ensure our collections don’t only exist in vaults in Wellington. They also provide a way of finding out more about ourselves and our own unique history".

Alongside historical moments such as the Springbok Tour of 1981 and New Zealand’s involvement in the Vietnam War, viewers can watch politicians from the past such as Robert Muldoon and Michael Savage; our writers Katherine Mansfield, Frank Sargeson and Margaret Mahy; the work of our artists Len Lye, Colin McCahon and our film makers like Gaylene Preston and Vincent Ward, as well as a wide range of sport, music videos and television commercials, plus our local A&P shows, beauty contests and street parades through the decades. 

Many people use the Film Archive to research their family stories and occasionally find footage of family members. In addition to the titles currently available, users can search and request other titles using an interloan service.