The Early Days

Made for the Post Office, this 1971 National Film Unit documentary offers a potted history of New Zealand, using postage stamps as the frame. Director David Sims ranges from Māori rock drawings, to Tasman and Cook. Once Pākehā settlers arrive, the film offers a narrative of progress (aside from two world wars) leading to nationhood and industry. Archive photographs, paintings, Edwardian-era scenes and reenactments add to the subjects illustrated on the stamps. The stamps include New Zealand’s first: a full-face portrait of Queen Victoria by Alfred Edward Chalon.

Inspiration for artist, revelation for men of science. In New Zealand’s forests two thirds of the plant life had never been seen before. And within there teemed a bird population of multifarious species and colour.

– From the narration

Key Cast & Crew

David Sims

Editor, Writer, Director

David H Fowler

Producer

Geoffrey Scott

Executive Producer

Peter Jones

Optical Effects

Val Federoff

Sound

Swami Hansa

Camera