About
This documentary chronicles Kiwi television's first historical epic: 1977 George Grey miniseries The Governor. Presenter Ian Johnstone looks at how the show reconstructed 19th century Aotearoa, and handled the battle scenes. The footage provides a fascinating snapshot of a young industry starting to think big. Also examined is The Governor's place in changing attitudes to race and history during the 1970s. Among those interviewed are writer Keith Aberdein and producer Tony Isaac, actors Don Selwyn and Corin Redgrave, and some of the Māori extras working on the battle scenes. Aberdein writes about The Governor here.
Key Cast & Crew
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George Henare as Hōne Heke, in episode one of The Governor, 'The Reverend Traitor'.
Kindly provided by The Dominion Post
Hōne Heke (George Henare) signs the Treaty of Waitangi in 'The Reverend Traitor', the first episode of The Governor. His friend Henry Williams (Grant Tilly) sits opposite.
Kindly provided by The Dominion Post.
A glimpse behind one of the bigger sets built for 1977 TV drama The Governor. George Grey's Mansion House at Kawau Island was recreated on a farm in Forest Lakes, Ōtaki. The set is seen in episode six, 'To the Death'.
Kindly provided by The Dominion Post.
At right, actor Don Selwyn (who played Wiremu Tāmihana) explains some of the finer points of a greenstone mere to Eastbourne antique dealer Helen Jenkinson, at an auction of props from historical epic The Governor.
Kindly provided by The Dominion Post
Sergeant Johnson (Norman Fletcher) finds the rules of combat on a warrior during the Tauranga campaign. It reads: "If thine enemy hungers, give him food. If he thirsts, give him drink". From the fifth episode of The Governor, 'The Lame Seagull'.
Kindly provided by The Dominion Post.
One of the bigger sets built for 1977 historical epic The Governor. George Grey's Mansion House at Kawau Island (which features in episode six) was recreated on a farm in Forest Lakes, Ōtaki.
Kindly supplied by The Dominion Post.
Some of the buildings created for The Governor, likely in the hills above the Hutt Valley.
Kindly provided by The Dominion Post.
Corin Redgrave as Governor George Grey (left) and Martyn Sanderson as General Sir Duncan Cameron, during on location filming for the fifth episode of The Governor, 'The Lame Seagull'.
Kindly provided by The Dominion Post.
Judy Cleine as Eliza Grey in historical epic The Governor. She featured in a number of episodes, especially 'No Way to Treat a Lady', the episode devoted to her relationship with George Grey.
Kindly provided by The Dominion Post.
