Deep-dive documentaries

Films and mini-series that dive deep into our history, culture, and society.

Deep-dive documentaries series and films

A bagpipe band stand in a field ready to perform. The text reads: "12,000 Miles from NZ to the Green."

12,000 Miles

Follow the Kiwis taking on the world at the World Pipe Band Champs in Scotland.
3 episodes
36m
In India, a group of people walk down a path in front of a historic building. Above the building in orange reads: "1984"

1984

Survivors of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots in India seek asylum in Aotearoa.
Film
1h 4m
A hillside is draped with a large Māori flag, on the ridge line stands a single figure and another Māori flag. Text in a painted font reads "Ake Ake Ake"

Ake Ake Ake

The story of the land occupation at Ihumātao in words of those that were there.
3 episodes
55m
Black and white photo of a portion of a team sports photo. Only two men visible with crossed arms. Text reads, "All Blacks at War".

All Blacks at War

Andrew Mehrtens MNZM shares the story of the 13 All Blacks killed in WWI.
Film
44m
A man sits silhouetted on some steps leading down to the water in a cave. He glances out over the incoming waves. Yellow text reads: "BEING Niuean. 50 YEARS OF PULE FAKAMOTU."

Being Niuean

Nominated
50 years of self-governance on the Rock.
Film
44m
A mixed crowd with people standing among police officers wearing helmets and masks. The image has a black background with the white title 'Boiling Point, March 2nd'.

Boiling Point

An account of the final day of one of Aotearoa’s most infamous protests.
Film
45m
A wide long beach withe dark grey sand and blue ocean. Text reads, "Chatham Islanders, Tchakat Tchatam Airani". There is an illustration of an indigenous Moriori tree carving in between the words "Chatham" and "Islanders".

Chatham Islanders

A documentary series about life on Aotearoa's remotest island.
7 episodes
26m
Framed by a purple fabric design is a plus-size model in a green dress. In front of her, in black-on-white text, reads: "CUTTING THE CURVE."

Cutting the Curve

Among diet drugs & shrinking ideals, curve & plus-size women fight to be seen.
6 episodes
10m
Black text on a beige background, text reads "Fight for the Wild". Behind the text are three illustrations, one is of New Zealand the other is a disembodied head of a Tūī and the third is a fantail.

Fight for the Wild

Documentary series exploring the notion of a Predator Free 2050 in Aotearoa.
4 episodes
45m
Host Guyon Espiner looking directly into the camera, with a bar illuminated by blue light in the background. On the right side from the man the title reads 'Proof'.

Guyon Espiner: Proof

Guyon Espiner's documentary about NZ's drinking culture & the alcohol industry.
Film
44m
In a black-and-white photograph, a Māori woman speaks into a microphone in front of a crowd. Her fist is raised defiantly in the air. below the woman, at the bottom of the image, the text reads in yellow lettering: "THE HAKA PARTY INCIDENT."

The Haka Party Incident

Award-winning
The last New Zealand war took place in 1979. It lasted three minutes.
Film
1h 28m
Bob Lowry, wearing an eyepatch, crown, and shirt with the words "In the country of the blind, the man" before it's cut off, holds a finger in the air. The graphic is white and teal with a title to the left of him which reads: "I Am a Dark River"

I Am a Dark River

NZ printer & publisher Bob Lowry, through the eyes of his granddaughter Tess.
Film
1h 10m
A black-and-white image of a smiling Joy Cowley sitting on a swing. Large text in the background of the image reads: "Joy Full & Fearless."

Joy, Full & Fearless

The trauma & triumph of celebrated author Joy Cowley's astonishing life.
Film
56m
The side profile of a man holding a guitar with a microphone on a stand in front of him. Text reads, "Legacy: Katchafire" and has a boarder around the perimeter of the frame.

Katchafire: Legacy

Katchafire's journey through creative differences & a changing music landscape.
Film
53m
Six seperate images arranged in two rows of three, content of the photos include, a man playing a trumpet, graffiti, a group shot of four men. Text across the middle reads, "Marauders".

MARAUDERS

Glorious handycam footage from the Fat Freddy's Drop 2003 debut European tour.
4 seasons/28 episodes
9m
The silhouette of a man against a sun either rising or setting, the sky is mostly green with a thin bank of orange light along the horizon. Text reads, "Meng".

Meng

A year in the life of Race Relations Commissioner Meng Foon.
Film
52m
A group of Pasifika women pose for a picture. Below them the text reads: "Myths & Maidens."

Myths & Maidens

Some of the trauma, challenges, & inequities of fafine Moana across Pasifika.
Film
56m
We see a coastline of New Zealand. On the right is the land; on the left is the ocean; above are clouds. Golden text in the middle reads: "STOLEN LANDS A HIGHLANDER'S QUEST."

Stolen Lands

A Highlander’s journey to Aotearoa meets a legacy of land & loss.
2 seasons/10 episodes
29m
An archival picture of a group of Pacific Islanders posing for a group picture. The text reads "Untold Pacific History"

Untold Pacific History

A dynamic and often provocative account of NZ's relationship with the Pacific.
2 seasons/8 episodes
14m
A sand dune with the ocean behind it in a cove, everything shadowy and violet in the twilight. The text reads "Whitiki! Whītī! Whītī! E!"'

Whitiki

The stories of three WWI Māori Pioneers, through the eyes of their descendants.
Film
52m

More to watch

If you are interested in Deep-dive documentaries you might also want to check out some of our other series and films.
Text reads, "Matangireia with Morgan Godfery". Background is beige with an out of focus letter M in fancy script.
In the middle of the image, the white text on blue reads: "RUAMATA IT'S MORE THAN HOCKEY 1 + 2" Above the text is an image of students from Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Ruamata doing a haka. Below the text is an image of students from the school standing in a formation with their coach, looking directly ahead.
A man in traditional Māori dress and a full face tā moko is standing in the forest. He is holding a wooden pole object. Text reads, "NZ Wars: Stories of Wairau".
A sepia toned photograph laying on a table. The photograph is of a man looking over his shoulder at the camera, he is wearing headphones and sitting in from of a switch board. Text reads, "Coast Watchers Operation Pacific".
An animated graphic of green trees and leaves in a forest, along with a red flower. The text in front reads "What Will I Be Today?"
Against a yellow-and-orange background, the cyan-coloured text reads: "the All Goods Race."
Framed by a purple fabric design is a plus-size model in a green dress. In front of her, in black-on-white text, reads: "CUTTING THE CURVE."
A person sitting on a hill looking out onto an inlet. The image is take from behind the person. Text reads, "Inside Outside". There is an overlay of a recording boarder along the perimeter of the image.
A sepia toned image of a family photograph depicting a woman holding the hands of two young children. The photo is deteriorating and the child on the left is almost obscured by the damage. The text reads, "Farewell Guangdong" there are also four Chinese characters, or 'Hanzi', above the text.
A half light purple and half yellow background with host, Josh Thomson, in the centre. Behind him are black and white images of six historical figures from various time periods. They have been superimposed so that they appear in a staggered star burst sort of pattern. Yellow text reads, "My Favourite Dead Person".
Woman looking into the camera, standing side on. She has a staunch expression and Is wearing a bright pink blouse. Text reads, "Breaking Silence". Text and woman stand against a dark, almost black background.
In a graphic made up of differently coloured brown tiles, the two main hosts of Whakamāori season three pose. Behind them is text reading: "WHAKAMĀORI."
Dark grey background with yellow text reading, "The Barber Shope". There is a illustration in the same yellow of a Māori design.
A man with their back towards the camera, they're looking on onto an ocean. The image is in grey scale. Text reads, "The Art of War".
In India, a group of people walk down a path in front of a historic building. Above the building in orange reads: "1984"
A man wearing a kākahu (clothing garment) and holding a hīrau (waka paddle). Text reads, "Te Kawau ki Tai. The Story of a Waka".
Host Guyon Espiner looking directly into the camera, with a bar illuminated by blue light in the background. At the bottom of the poster, the title reads 'Proof'.
Dark purple background with text, "Art Stories in Aotearoa".
A person on a BMX bike jumping over the camera, silhouetted against a cloudy sky. Text reads, "No Limits".
An adult person is holding a young child in their arms and hugging them. Text reads, "Blind Bitter Happiness".
A man wearing sunglasses and a tartan hat is looking out to the left. Text reads, "Our Other Islands".
The silhouette of a man against a sun either rising or setting, the sky is mostly green with a thin bank of orange light along the horizon. Text reads, "Meng".
A close up of a video game controller, the lighting makes it look slightly pink and blue. Text reads, "Game Change".
Illustration of two women looking defiantly at the viewer. The background is yellow with illustrated yellow simple flowers. The text reads, "Conversations with my Immigrant Parents".