Compass - First Five Years of Television

Made six years after local TV broadcasting began, this wide-ranging 1966 documentary looks at the past and future of television in NZ. Political science lecturer Reg Harrison examines local content, a second channel, private enterprise, transmission challenges, editorial independence, sports coverage, and how TV’s expansion has affected other pursuits, and children. The doco includes interviews with privacy-keen Gordon Dryden and film legend Rudall Hayward, and MPs. Director Gordon Bick later argued that the NZBC had allowed "a good deal of criticism against itself" on screen.

Our immediate thought was, would we get away with a critical, controversial programme looking at ourselves? Or would the heavy hand of a vetting committee forestall any honest appraisal of the NZBC Television Service?

– Director Gordon Bick, in his book The Compass File, page 82

Key Cast & Crew

Gordon Bick

Director, Assistant Producer

Allan Martin

Producer

Gordon Dryden

Subject

Bruce Mason

Subject

Gilbert Stringer

Subject, Subject

Waldo Maguire

Assistant Editor, Subject