NZ Book Collection
Curated by NZ On Screen team 79 items
This collection features screen adaptations from New Zealand books, and documentaries about our celebrated writers.
Moving words
In the beginning — of both movies and books — is the word. Many classic Kiwi films and television dramas have come from books (Sleeping Dogs, Whale Rider); and many writers have found new readers, through being celebrated and adapted on screen. This collection showcases Kiwi books and authors on screen. Plus check out booklover Finlay Macdonald's backgrounder.
Television
Film
Shorts
Collection Gallery
Film Poster for A State of Siege.
Kindly supplied by Vincent Ward.
Malfred Signal (Anne Flannery) in A State of Siege.
Kindly supplied by Vincent Ward.
Malfred Signal (Anne Flannery) in A State of Siege.
Kindly supplied by Vincent Ward.
Malfred Signal (Anne Flannery) in A State of Siege.
Kindly supplied by Vincent Ward.
Malfred Signal (Anne Flannery) beneath the Putangirua Pinnacles in A State of Siege.
Kindly supplied by Vincent Ward.
Emily Barclay in a scene from In My Father's Den
.
Photo appears courtesy of the New Zealand Film Commission.
Matthew Macfayden and Emily Barclay in a scene from In My Father's Den
.
Photo appears courtesy of the New Zealand Film Commission.
Emily Barclay in a scene from In My Father's Den.
Photo appears courtesy of the New Zealand Film Commission.
Jodie Rimmer as Jackie, in a scene from film In My Father's Den. Rimmer was named Best Supporting Actress for the role at the 2005 New Zealand Film and Television Awards.
Photo appears courtesy of the NZ Film Commission
A behind the scenes shot from film In My Father's Den: writer/director Brad McGann and actor Jodie Rimmer.
Photo appears courtesy of the NZ Film Commission
Photo appears courtesy of the NZ Film Commission
On the set of One of Them.
Kindly supplied by MF Films.
An image from 2001 movie Rain: Sarah Peirse as Kate.
Photo appears courtesy of the NZ Film Commission
A shot from Rain: Sarah Peirse as Kate, and Alicia Fulford-Wierzbicki as her daughter Janey.
Photographer Alistair Guthrie. Photo appears courtesy of the NZ Film Commission
Yvette Reid as Ngaire 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.
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.
Michael King wrote Janet Frame's biography Wrestling With The Angel: A Life of Janet Frame.
Photographer: Reg Graham.
Janet Frame with the three actresses that portrayed her in An Angel At My Table. From left: Karen Fergusson, Alexia Keogh and Kerry Fox.
©Hibiscus Films
Photographer: Reg Graham
A still from 2009 movie Under the Mountain. From left: Oliver Driver as Mr Wilberforce, Tom Cameron as Theo and Sophie McBride as Rachel.
Photo appears courtesy of the NZ Film Commission
Oliver Driver as Mr Wilberforce in Under the Mountain.
Photo appears courtesy of the New Zealand Film Commission.
Glynis McNicoll and expat New Zealand actor Noel Trevarthen as Aunty Noeline and Uncle Clarry in Under the Mountain.
Kindly supplied by The Post
Mr Wilberforce (Bill Johnson) flanked by some close friends, in 1981 TV series Under the Mountain.
Kindly supplied by The Post
Yvonne Mackay directs The Silent One.
Provided by Yvonne Mackay.
Film poster for A State of Siege.
Kindly supplied by Vincent Ward.
Under the Mountain: from left, Mr Jones (Roy Leywood), Theo (Lance Warren) and Rachel (Kirsty Wilkinson).
Kindly supplied by The Post
Twins Theo and Rachel Matheson encounter the evil atmosphere of Lake Pupuke and the Wilberforce house, in the first episode of Under the Mountain.
Kindly supplied by The Post
A shot from TV series Under the Mountain: the sinister Mr Wilberforce reveals his true form.
Kindly supplied by The Post
Margaret Mahy and Elizabeth Knox talk with characters from Mahy's books.
Photographer: Denise Baldwin. Animations: Euan Frizzell.
Margaret Mahy and Elizabeth Knox talk with characters from Mahy's books.
Photographer: Denise Baldwin. Animation: Euan Frizzell.
Margaret Mahy reads to her grandchildren and Elizabeth Knox as characters from the books listen in.
Photographer: Denise Baldwin. Animations: Euan Frizzell.
Harry Woods, Sophie Hambleton and Bernard Kearns in a scene from A Tall Long Faced Tale.
Photograph by Helena Fierlinger
Behind the scenes of Universal Drive with Lead Actors Todd Rippon (left) Margot Ward (right), director Martyn Sanderson (centre).
Photo appears courtesy of the NZ Film Commission
Temuera Morrison as Jack in E Tipu E Rea - Te Moemoea.
Photo appears courtesy of the New Zealand Film Commission.
Anzac Wallace as Raniera in E Tipu E Rea - Te Moemoea.
Photo appears courtesy of the New Zealand Film Commission.
A scene from One of Them.
Kindly supplied by MF Films.
A scene from One of Them.
Kindly supplied by MF Films.
A scene from One of Them.
Kindly supplied by MF Films.
On the set of One of Them.
Kindly supplied by MF Films.
Behind the scenes on A Tall Long-Faced Tale: actor Kassie McLuskie is painted for a scene by body painting artist Rachel Linton.
Photograph by Helena Fierlinger
Craig Miller from A Tall, Long Faced Tale.
Photographer: Helena Fierlinger.
Director Yvonne Mackay directs body painted actress Kassie McLuskie. Director of photography David Paul and sound recordist Nick McGowan look on.
Photographer: Helena Fierlinger.
Actors Nathan Meister and John Bach filming a scene for A Tall Long Faced Tale.
Photographer: Helen Fierlinger
Director Yvonne Mackay with actor Nathan Meister.
Photographer: Helena Fierlinger.
Actors Martyn Wood and Kate Harcourt filming a scene for A Tall Long Faced Tale.
Photograph by Helena Fierlinger
Keisha Castle-Hughes in Whangara, in a scene from Whale Rider.
Image courtesy of South Pacific Pictures
Keisha Castle-Hughes as Pai, the lead character in Whale Rider.
Image courtesy of South Pacific Pictures
A 30th anniversary reunion for movie Sleeping Dogs: from left to right, associate producer Larry Parr, special effects man Geoff Murphy, actor/co-writer Ian Mune, actor Bernard Kearns, and Don Brash (who helped finance the film).
Photographer: Andrew Gorrie. Kindly provided by The Dominion Post
Sam Neill in a scene from Sleeping Dogs.
Photo appears courtesy of the NZ Film Commission
Smith (Sam Neill) in front of his new home in the Coromandel, in 1977 film Sleeping Dogs.
Photo appears courtesy of the NZ Film Commission
Sam Neill in a scene from Sleeping Dogs.
Photo appears courtesy of the NZ Film Commission
Director Niki Caro talks to Elizabeth Knox, author of the original novel.
Kindly provided by Hoyts Distribution.
Vera Farmiga and Jeremie Renier in a scene from The Vintner's Luck.
Kindly provided by Hoyts Distribution.
A scene from The Vintner's Luck.
Kindly provided by Hoyts Distribution.
Jeremie Renier in a scene from The Vintner's Luck.
Kindly provided by Hoyts Distribution.
Keisha Castle-Hughes and Jeremie Renier on set in The Vintner's Luck.
Kindly provided by Hoyts Distribution.
On set in The Vintner's Luck.
Kindly provided by Hoyts Distribution.
A scene from The Vintner's Luck.
Kindly provided by Hoyts Distribution.
Gaspard Ulliel as the angel Xas in The Vintner's Luck.
Kindly provided by Hoyts Distribution.
Jeremie Renier and Keisha Castle-Hughes at in the vineyard in The Vintner's Luck.
Kindly provided by Hoyts Distribution.
Keisha Castle-Hughes as Celeste in The Vintner's Luck.
Kindly provided by Hoyts Distribution.
Photographer: Kerry Brown. Kindly provided by Onfilm.
Julian Arahanga (left) as Nig and Temuera Morrison (right) as Jake in Once Were Warriors.
Temuera Morrison as Jake (left) and Rena Owen as Beth (right) in a scene from Once Were Warriors.
A shot from the Once Were Warriors premiere. From left to right: Neil Roberts from production company Communicado, actor Cliff Curtis, producer Robin Scholes, actor Temuera Morrison, Communicado's Garry McAlpine and director Lee Tamahori.
Temuera Morrison getting in shape for Once Were Warriors, watched on by Robert Bruce.
Photo appears courtesy of the New Zealand Film Commission.
George Henare (left) and Rongo Tupatea Kahu (right) in a scene from The Silent One.
Kindly provided by Onfilm.
Talo Malase (centre) and Pat Evison (right) in a scene from The Silent One.
Kindly provided by Onfilm.
