The Z-Nail Gang

Greenies meet The Castle in this 2014 film from first-time feature director Anton Steel. The Z-Nail Gang tells the story of locals joining to fight plans to dig an opencast goldmine in nearby bush — using nails in car tyres, Santa suits and a rap song, instead of monkey wrenches. The making of this down-home take on eco-activism was also a grassroots effort, with the film made by harnessing community support in the Bay of Plenty town of Te Puke. At the 2014 NZ Film Awards it was nominated for Best Self-Funded Film, and Best Supporting Actress (Vanessa Rare).

The cast and crew all worked together. No one was more 'special' than anyone else. The community made this film ... Everything on this film was donated, people donated their time, their helicopters, food, wardrobe, make up. We had some wonderful, well-known actors on this film and some incredibly talented crew who would normally charge a lot. Everyone did it for the love. Also the message is so poignant to New Zealand now and always, I believe.

– Actress Tanya Horo on the film's community spirit, The Waikato Times, 25 July 2014

Key Cast & Crew

Anton Steel

Director, Writer

Kylie DellaBarca Steel

Producer

Vanessa Rare

As: Aunty

Phil Brown

As: Fred

Mike Lowe

As: Tom

Joseph White

As: Jojo