Anzac Day Collection
Curated by NZ On Screen team 71 items
This collection explores New Zealand's experience of war — from frontline stories to reflections from those left behind.
Overview
This collection brings together over 60 titles covering Kiwis at war. Iconic documentaries and films tell stories of terrible cost, heroism and kinship. There are also background pieces by historians Chris Pugsley and Jock Phillips, and broadcaster Ian Johnstone. Pugsley muses, "It is sobering to think that in the first half of the 20th Century the big OE for most New Zealanders was going to war."
Shorts
Television
Collection Gallery
A portrait of Tui Preston as a young woman. Preston was interviewed for her daughter Gaylene's 1995 documentary War Stories.
Photo courtesy of Gaylene Preston Productions
A photo of Flo Small, one of the women interviewed for 1995 documentary War Stories.
Photo courtesy of Gaylene Preston Productions
A portrait of Mabel Waititi and her child. Waititi was interviewed for 1995 documentary War Stories.
Photo courtesy of Gaylene Preston Productions
A portrait of the main characters in Tama Tū.
Kindly supplied by the New Zealand Film Commission.
The subjects of Children of Gallipoli from left John Waipara, Jane Pierard, Serkan Kacmaz and Pinar Kurtdere.
Kindly supplied by Anna Cottrell.
John Waipara plays the Māori flute on Chunuk Bair in Children of Gallipoli.
Kindly supplied by Anna Cottrell.
Yvette Reid as Ngaire and Gareth Reeves as Gerald in a scene from Dead Letters.
Photographer: Robert Catto. Kindly supplied by The New Zealand Film Commission.
Yvette Reid as Ngaire and Gareth Reeves as Gerald in a scene from Dead Letters.
Photographer: Robert Catto. Kindly supplied by The New Zealand Film Commission.
Yvette Reid as Ngaire and Gareth Reeves as Gerald in a scene from Dead Letters.
Photographer: Robert Catto. Kindly supplied by The New Zealand Film Commission.
Ed (Martin Henderson) returns from the war in Home by Christmas.
Kindly supplied by Gaylene Preston Productions
Kindly supplied by Gaylene Preston Productions
Kindly supplied by Gaylene Preston Productions
Kindly supplied by Gaylene Preston Productions
Hoppy (Byron Coll, left) and Ed Preston (Martin Henderson) at Maadi Camp outside Cairo, in 2010 movie Home by Christmas.
Kindly supplied by Gaylene Preston Productions
Ed Preston (Martin Henderson) on the train, in movie Home by Christmas (2010).
Kindly supplied by Gaylene Preston Productions
Ed (Martin Henderson) and Tui (Chelsie Preston Crayford) say farewell, before he leaves for World War ll: a scene from Home by Christmas.
Kindly supplied by Gaylene Preston Productions
Ed Preston (Martin Henderson) and his partner Tui (Chelsie Preston Crayford) on the train home, in Home by Christmas.
Kindly supplied by Gaylene Preston Productions
Tony Barry (Ed Preston) in movie Home by Christmas (2010).
Kindly supplied by Gaylene Preston Productions
Chelsie Preston Crayford as her own real life grandmother Tui Preston, in 2010 movie Home by Christmas.
Kindly supplied by Gaylene Preston Productions
Chelsie Preston Crayford playing her own grandmother Tui Preston, in 2010 movie Home by Christmas.
Kindly supplied by Gaylene Preston Productions
William Ackroyd as Edward Junior, brother of Gaylene Preston, in Preston's 2010 film Home by Christmas.
Kindly supplied by Gaylene Preston Productions
Publicity image, taken just before Corporal Wilie Apiata's press conference.
Kindly supplied by Desert Road Ltd.
Corporal Willie Apiata during Victoria Cross award ceremony at Te Kaha Marae.
Kindly supplied by Desert Road Ltd.
Corporal Willie Apiata invested with Victoria Cross during ceremony at Government House.
Kindly supplied by Desert Road Ltd.
More info and links
Special thanks to:
NZ On Screen would like to thank TVNZ, TVNZ Archives, Archives New Zealand, NZ Film Commission, the producers and production companies, colleagues and contributors who helped with the compilation of this Anzac Collection. We also wish to acknowledge the many New Zealanders these titles honour.