Getting to Our Place

This 70-minute documentary provides an eye-opening view into the crucible that forged Wellington's Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa. The museum opened in February 1998. The fly-on-the-wall doco reveals the challenges of developing a national museum melding history, art gallery and commercial attractions. As political, creative and monetary considerations collide, the result bears "many of the hallmarks of a thriller" (NZ Herald writer Peter Calder). Included are tense stoushes about funding, the Treaty of Waitangi exhibition, and Saatchi & Saatchi's logo ideas. This backgrounder adds further detail.

A film full of meetings may sound like a cure for insomnia, but the 75-minute documentary is riveting. Most simply, it is a fascinating look behind the scenes of a historic project which, as creative and commercial interests collide, has many of the hallmarks of a thriller.

– Writer Peter Calder in The NZ Herald, 14 July 1999

Key Cast & Crew

Anna Cottrell

Co-Director, Field Director

Robin Laing

Associate Producer

Darryn Smith

Camera Operator

Gaylene Preston

Co-Director, Producer

Paul Sutorius

Editor

Chris Terpstra

Camera Operator