We use cookies to help us understand how you use our site, and make your experience better. To find out more read our privacy policy.
Play

00:00

/

00:00

Full screen
Video quality

Low 0 MB

High 0 MB

HD 0 MB

Captions
Volume
Volume
Hero image for The Snowline is Their Boundary

The Snowline is Their Boundary

Short Film (Full Length) – 1955

"For the farmers of the high country the snowline is their boundary". So begins the narration to this National Film Unit documentary. Beautifully shot by Brian Brake, the challenges of farming the vast stations on the rugged aprons of the Southern Alps are captured. The centrepiece is the great autumn muster where shepherds and dogs work 16,000 sheep down from "the tops" over 100,000 acres of peaks and glaciers, before the snow and winter blizzards arrive. "It's mutton every meal out here - we chase sheep every day and eat them every meal." 

Key Cast & Crew

Profile image for Oxley Hughan

Oxley Hughan

Director, Writer

Generic Profile image for Doug Edwards

Doug Edwards

Narrator

Generic Profile image for Bob Kingsbury

Bob Kingsbury

Editor, Co-Director

Generic Profile image for Patrick Smyth

Patrick Smyth

Narrator

Profile image for Brian Brake

Brian Brake

Camera

See all 7 credits

If you liked this, you might also like...

Collection
Collection image for Snow

Snow

The Snow collection features titles about New Zealand's...

Collection
Collection image for Brian Brake at the NFU

Brian Brake at the NFU

Photographer Brian Brake was also an accomplished...

Collection
Collection image for The Horse Collection

The Horse Collection

This collection features all things equine on NZ screens...

Collection
Collection image for The Sheep Collection

The Sheep Collection

New Zealand is said to have earned its prosperity "off...

Thumbnail image for Country Calendar - Billy Riddell, Drover

Country Calendar - Billy Riddell, Drover

More stock movement

Thumbnail image for Snows of Aorangi

Snows of Aorangi

This Brian Brake documentary was the first NZ film to be...

Thumbnail image for Dogstar

Dogstar

An NFU film about dogs and their role in NZ farming

Thumbnail image for Charlie Horse

Charlie Horse

A 70s documentary about an attempt to break in a horse

Thumbnail image for The Leading Edge

The Leading Edge

This 80s feature film features plenty of mountain sport...

Thumbnail image for Weekly Review No. 416 - Prelude to Aspiring

Weekly Review No. 416 - Prelude to Aspiring

Also shot by Brian Brake

Thumbnail image for A Dog's Show - 1981 Final

A Dog's Show - 1981 Final

Featuring high country sheepdogs

Thumbnail image for Canterbury is a Hundred

Canterbury is a Hundred

More high country farming

Thumbnail image for Moa's Ark : Building the Ark

Moa's Ark : Building the Ark

This episode of the David Bellamy-presented series looks...

Thumbnail image for The New Adventures of Black Beauty - The Birdman

The New Adventures of Black Beauty - The Birdman

Another iconic horse story

Thumbnail image for Country Calendar
Series

Country Calendar

An iconic series on NZ farming

Thumbnail image for Bred to Win

Bred to Win

NFU documentary on NZ thoroughbred racing

Thumbnail image for This Way of Life

This Way of Life

A doco set in the North Island hill country

Thumbnail image for Bidibidi - First Episode

Bidibidi - First Episode

Classic kids' puppet series about a high country sheep

Thumbnail image for Farming in New Zealand

Farming in New Zealand

More farming imagery from Brian Brake

Thumbnail image for Taranaki

Taranaki

Also directed by Oxley Hughan

Thumbnail image for People of the Waikato

People of the Waikato

Also directed by Oxley Hughan

Thumbnail image for Workhorse to Dreamhorse

Workhorse to Dreamhorse

Another working horse - on a milk round

Thumbnail image for A Letter to the Teacher

A Letter to the Teacher

More remote lifestyles

Thumbnail image for Fast Forward - What a Weigh to Go

Fast Forward - What a Weigh to Go

Sheep farming meets new technology

Thumbnail image for Beautiful New Zealand

Beautiful New Zealand

Also features high country farming

Thumbnail image for Outdoor Dogs

Outdoor Dogs

Working dogs in the ‘50s

Thumbnail image for The Mackenzie Affair - Tancred (Final Episode)

The Mackenzie Affair - Tancred (Final Episode)

More high country mustering

Thumbnail image for Wayleggo

Wayleggo

Another NFU look at life in the high country

Thumbnail image for West of Eden

West of Eden

Rural drama set in the 1960s

Thumbnail image for Heartland - High Country: Autumn Muster

Heartland - High Country: Autumn Muster

More on the high country muster