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Jet Boats in New Zealand

1961 9m Short film
  • Documentary
  • NZ History

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.

Key Cast & Crew

BK
Bob Kingsbury
Director
Profile picture of James Harris
James Harris
Writer, Camera, Editor
PG
Peter Gwynne
Narrator
VF
Val Federoff
Sound

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