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Hero image for Jet Boats in New Zealand

Jet Boats in New Zealand

Short Film (Full Length) – 1961

In the 1950s, driven by a desire to power around the shallows of the Mackenzie Country's braided rivers, inventor and "South Island sheep man" Bill Hamilton developed an improved method of jet boat propulsion. This NFU film explains the concept and Hamilton demonstrates the 'turbo craft': cruising Lake Manapouri, waterskiing Lyttelton Harbour, and heading up the Whanganui. Then it's spin outs and shooting rapids (and deer) with Commander Philip Porter from the icebreaker USS Glacier...who clearly loves the smell of the Waimakariri in the morning.

Someone always has to do that turn-in-your-length trick.
– From the narration

Key Cast & Crew

Generic Profile image for Bob Kingsbury

Bob Kingsbury

Director

Profile image for James Harris

James Harris

Writer, Editor, Camera

Generic Profile image for Val Federoff

Val Federoff

Sound

Generic Profile image for Peter Gwynne

Peter Gwynne

Narrator

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Thumbnail image for Pictorial Parade No. 35

Pictorial Parade No. 35

Earlier film featuring Bill Hamilton and his boat

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Britten - Backyard Visionary

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Landmarks - A Land Apart

Bill Hamilton’s story is told by Kenneth Cumberland

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This is Your Life - AJ Hackett

Another famous Kiwi invention

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The Adventure World of Sir Edmund Hillary - The Kaipo Wall

Sir Ed goes with the flow down the Hollyford

Thumbnail image for New Zealand Grand Prix

New Zealand Grand Prix

More water-skiing action

Thumbnail image for The Legend of the Whanganui River

The Legend of the Whanganui River

More Whanganui River action

Thumbnail image for Pictorial Parade No. 99

Pictorial Parade No. 99

Also shows a Hamilton Jet on the Waimakariri River

Thumbnail image for Good Day - Sir Edmund Hillary

Good Day - Sir Edmund Hillary

Sir Edmund Hillary’s 1977 Indian jet boat expedition

Thumbnail image for Country Calendar - Spoofs Special

Country Calendar - Spoofs Special

More Kiwi inventions

Thumbnail image for From the Ocean to the Sky

From the Ocean to the Sky

Edmund Hillary tests the jet up the Ganges

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Bigger, Better, Faster, Stronger - Episode Two

More Kiwi invention

Thumbnail image for Hunger for the Wild - Series One, Episode Two (Whanganui River wild pig)

Hunger for the Wild - Series One, Episode Two (Whanganui River wild pig)

More jet-boating on the Whanganui

Thumbnail image for A Question of Power - The Manapouri Debate

A Question of Power - The Manapouri Debate

Doco on efforts to prevent a Lake Manapōuri dam

Thumbnail image for J.D. Goes Hunting

J.D. Goes Hunting

A 1960 NFU film on hunting in the Southern Alps

Thumbnail image for Racing Rivers

Racing Rivers

Later jet-boating action

Thumbnail image for I Am the River

I Am the River

More on the Whanganui River

Thumbnail image for Country Calendar - Ron Hintz

Country Calendar - Ron Hintz

Country Calendar episode about a backyard inventor

Thumbnail image for Hillary: Ocean to Sky

Hillary: Ocean to Sky

Trailer on Edmund Hillary's 1977 Ganges jet boat trip

Thumbnail image for Making New Zealand - Tourism

Making New Zealand - Tourism

Documentary on the history of tourism in NZ