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We have, and will continue, to cover a wide range of
social issues affecting all New Zealanders - from eating
disorders to gambling addictions to the parole process.
We reflect New Zealand’s diverse cultural identity
examining a broad range of New Zealanders from teenage
fathers to artists to ambulance drivers.
Raconteur is represented on the
international stage by Beyond
Distribution Ltd.
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Between
the Lines - Dennis Glover
Denis Glover (1912-1980) has become one of the most important
poets in New Zealand's literary history, as well being
the first to establish an independent literary press.
Between the Lines - Denis Glover explores a man who persistently
undervalued his own poetry, but was viewed by many in
New Zealand as a poet of the common man. Others remember
Glover as the drunken, clumsy, bawdy poet who allowed
his sense of humour to get in the way of his writing.
This documentary takes a candid look at a man who is renown
for capturing New Zealand's identity, whilst challenging,
exploring and highlighting significant issues that emerged
during his lifetime....more> |
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Madame
Morison
"one of the very best
profiles of an artist that I have seen on local broadcast
this year"
- Ron Brownson, Senior Curator
New Zealand and Pacific Art, Auckland Art Gallery Toi
o Tamaki
2006 Arts Laureate Julia Morison creates her work from
something arbitrary, like a drip of paint, the crazing
of two incompatible varnishes, or a squirt of polystyrene
foam. After thirty years of practise, and now teaching
University students, Morison's career has seen her multi
genre work installed in galleries and public art spaces
in Australasia and Europe. Deep and surreal, like her
work, teasing images and glimpses reveal Julia Morison
the artist, as a complex individual with many layers to
herself and her art ...more> |
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Up
for Parole
Every year 7000 inmates are called to Parole Board hearings
in New Zealand. They're normally held behind closed
doors but for the first time in New Zealand cameras will
allow us an insight into these hearings. Up for Parole
follows three separate Parole Board hearings and also
explores the impact of these three crimes on the victim's
and families involved. Victims of serious crimes are told
when a hearing is coming up and for many of them it's
a time where they are forced to relive their nightmares.
The Parole Board's job isn't to decide if a prisoner has
been punished enough, but to see if an offender is safe
to release into the community. It's often a thankless
task....more> |
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A
Clinical Approach
Theatre that's colourful, character-driven, with a touch
anarchic or grotesque, influenced by dance theatre and
art house film. Established in 1999 by Lucette Hindin,
Anastsia Dailianis and Haydn Kerr. Now the innovative
theatre makers have grown to a core group of five with
a large network of affiliated actors and artists, Who
create original performances, touring and running workshops
in Christchurch, Wellington, Dunedin and Leipzig, Germany.
Using music, video, film, dance and traditional stage
techniques, the team work with concepts rather than scripts
- challenging for even the most accomplished actors.
This documentary shows artistic flare that expands the
stage far beyond our current conception....more> |
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Bad
White Art
Tony de Latour's career is at a turning point, and we
have a unique opportunity to see an artist move from the
pre-eminent to esteemed. This piece is a snapshot of an
artist, at the crucial time of stepping from beings just
another painter, to one of New Zealand's greats, according
to three of Australia's top gallery owners. Ray Hughes
Gallery in Sydney - one of Australia's strongest
contemporary spaces -has for the first time asked Tony
for a stand-alone show. Using music from Tony's own collection
- Dunedin garage band The Clean -a dark hard-edged
feel, this documentary echoes Tony's works . This
complements the 'bad white art' theme Tony's picked up,
and the sketchy pencil-case art style that's often attributed
by curators as coming from the 'Bill Hammond school' of
South island artists....more> |
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Distinctly
Grahame Sydney
It is difficult to think of the parched central Otago
landscape that makes up the majority of the lower South
Island without thinking about Grahame Sydney. This association
has grown and developed since the outset of his career
in the mid 70's, when his egg tempera paintings articulated
a sense of place that struck both a regionalist and nationalist
nerve. Barren woolsheds, road signs, cloud formations
or portraits, whatever the subject, such is the universal
appeal of Sydney's work that Elton John, Nelson Mandela
and Sam Neil own his paintings. Sam Neil is "always
keen to see what Grahame is going to do next."
Sydney fans are more widespread than most. Such is the
popularity of his work that his paintings are sold to
a private waiting list, and many have never been seen
publicly. His lithographs are eagerly awaited and quickly
sell out. Poet Brian Turner poses the question "Why
people want to keep Grahame Sydney in a box as a landscape
artist."...more> |
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Made
in New Zealand - Margaret Mahy
Margaret Mahy is a household name, where her books have
imprinted many reader's lives. For Mahy life began in
a large Whakatane family, as the eldest of five children
- obvious inspiration for her stories - and, like most
of her books she's very family orientated. It's a common
expectation that to New Zealanders Margaret Mahy's a household
name, overseas also she's considered a groundbreaking
author whose books have been on the bestseller lists since
the seventies. Margaret Mahy is an international wonder
in both literary circles and in homes around the world.
With books printed in dozens of languages throughout Europe
she's extremely well known for her young adult fiction.
This documentary reveals just how highly regarded Mahy
is, with interviews with her UK publisher and the NZ producers
of her latest creation....more> |
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Rock
Canvas
New Zealand's rock art is reasonably young on a world
scale, but for New Zealanders it's a crucial, and until
recently, rarely known part of our history. The Ngai Tahu
Maori Rock Art Project was initiated with help from New
Zealand 1990's Commission, New Zealand Historic Places
Trust and University of Otago, evolving from Ngai Tahu
South Island Maori Rock Art Project -Te Kaupapa i nga
Tuhituhi Tawhito o Te Waipounamu.
The majority of New Zealand's rock art is located in the
South Island and depicts animals, humans, abstract designs,
mythical forms and waka. This art helps us understand
what life was like for the first people who made their
mark on Aotearoa. Travelling throughout Canterbury this
story shows New Zealander's their own rock art and the
processes involved in preserving these ancient artworks....more> |
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I
Do Down Under
Weddings - love them or hate them they're one of the most
anticipated, anguished over and memorable days in a couple's
life. And while the number of couples tying the
knot in New Zealand is on the decline - couples choosing
to travel to New Zealand has been steadily on the rise
- with, it being estimated, over 1000 couples choosing
to marry here last year We take a look at the international
wedding industry through the eyes of 31 year old wedding
co-ordinator Vanessa Leeming. Starting out ten years
ago she is now the owner of one of the country's biggest
wedding planning companies and co-ordinates weddings all
over the country. We follow her as she organises weddings
for five couples from all over the world - catering to
her clients' every whim - from transport and accommodation
right through to marriage licence and dress hire. The
documentary takes place in the height of the wedding season
and is filmed all over the South Island - from the bottom
of Mount Cook to a West Coast beach, punting down the
Avon River in Christchurch to a wedding overlooking Lake
Hayes....more> |
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St
John 24/7
Hurrying through the city streets with it's lights, siren
and focused crew, an ambulance conjures feelings of security,
comfort and relief to most of us. Yet few of us realise
that in most cases at least one of the crew will be a
volunteer. Beyond the obvious ambulance, this is the story
of an organisation, largely composed of volunteers, quietly
going about it's business wherever we place ourselves
in harms way. In the critical area of primary emergency
care, with the demands of advanced training, high levels
of stress and often dangerous environments, an army of
over six thousand New Zealanders is mobilised every week
to help staff the services of St John. From the road sides
and sidelines; the mountains and waters; the raves
and rock concerts; twenty four hours a day St. John can
reach the injured and distressed. From 4pm on Friday
through until the 8am on Tuesday we watch as lives are
saved, injured tended and the lonely comforted by one
of the largest volunteers organisations in the country....more> |
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The
Naked Bum
The bum is something we all have in common and yet how
much do we really know about it, and it's functions? We
sit on it, we expel our waste through it, it enables us
to stand, walk and climb stairs. We clothe it, we admire
it - some of us even derive sexual pleasure from it and
yet apart from 'does my bum look big in this' we rarely
drop it into conversation. The Naked Bum asks New Zealanders
from a wide and varied background about their bum - and
it's functions. We ignore our bowels at our peril. New
Zealand tops the world in bowel cancer statistics with
New Zealand women having the highest rate of colon cancer
in the world and New Zealand men and women together putting
New Zealand third in the international rectal cancer rates.
The Naked Bum looks at attitudes and opinions, health
issues and the role the bum plays, as an outlet for our
waste, something to sit on - and something to admire....more> |
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Real
Dads Revealed
For many men fatherhood is the most important role they
will ever play in their entire life. And like a lot of
roles in today's society, that role is changing. From
the stern, authoritive and distant father of our fathers,
a new man has emerged. Today's dads want to play
a bigger part in raising their children. Silently they're
reducing hours, juggling shifts or simply quitting work
to take on the most important job of their life. Fatherhood.
Real Dads revealed explores the changing role of
fatherhood in New Zealand by examining the position from
the point of view of the hands-on-Dad, and the generations
either side of him; daughters, sons and grandfathers share
their recollections and opinions. This documentary
looks at where our fathers think their parenting role
is headed, and what impact the changing role of Fathers
is having on our children. It examines the stereotype
of the cardy wearing, meek and mild househusband, and
reveal dads that have taken the opportunity to play an
active role in parenting, covering the whole spectrum
of manhood. ...more> |
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Married
– Again & Again
Is marriage the ulitmate life affirming relationship?
For two out of five New Zealanders this is definitely
so. Rather than living together they choose to remarry.
They'll disrupt their lives, blend families move house
and move cities in order to fulfil the belief that their
remarriage is another chance at wedded bliss. In this
documentary we look at those who have vowed never again,
those who have done it, are doing it and some who have
married again and again....more> |
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The
Naked Vagina
There is not one word to encompass the female reproductive,
urinary and sexual functions. Of course there are
plenty of derogatory names but this programme is an informative
piece and it is not our goal to offend the female population.
The only word that gets is the sum of all the parts of
the female sex organ is "vagina". Although
it is not entirely accurate it is the only one we've got. Recently
the vagina has taken centre stage in several parts of
the world including Australia, America and Great Britain.
Eve Ensler's book "The Vagina Monologues" has
been received with open arms. The book has since
been turned into a live dramatic performance that has
packed playhouses internationally. The topic of the vagina
might be considered to be sort of a no-man's-land in the
media. Are people afraid to talk about it?
Is it that people are afraid to look at it? Education
is the only way women and men will truly understand and
appreciate the complexities of the vaginas. Our
viewers preconceived ideas will forever be perpetuated
if this documentary is not made. The vagina must
not be ignored. The Naked Vagina – making it
okay to discuss, look at and get to know the Vagina....more> |
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Teen
Dads
Teen Dads looks at the dilemmas teenage dads face as they
try to balance two vastly different roles - being a teenager
and being a dad. Adolescent years are complex enough,
becoming a dad during these years makes it even tougher.
We meet three young men who are currently facing the fact
that they are a dad; what that really means for
them and how it impacts on their lives. They have to deal
with issues most teenagers know nothing about, from the
birth of their baby and how to change a nappy, to guardianship
rights and financial responsibilities. Very few teenage
boys are adequately prepared for fatherhood....more> |
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The
Naked Penis
Hardly ever seen in public - except on statues, flashers
and streakers - the penis nevertheless has quite a story
to tell. Until now it has been a story shrouded in privacy,
modesty, embarrassment - even ignorance - with consequences
for men's health, both physical and psychological. In
The Naked Penis, the male trousers are unzipped so that
men can reveal their thoughts on everything from size,
form and function to circumcision, vasectomy, sex-change,
and serious health problems such as cancer. Ordinary men
- and some extraordinary ones - talk candidly about their
own genitals, how they work or let them down, and what
they think about masturbation, circumcision, vasectomy,
erections and sexual health....more> |
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Taking
a Gamble
A documentary on gambling addiction, specifically gaming
machines. It's easy to understand why people get hooked
on alcohol and drugs because both involve a substance,
something tangible. But gambling? Who
in their right mind would become addicted to a gaming
machine? That's the essential point. Gambling
is a mental disorder. An Unseen Addiction. It affects
one in four people. This documentary follows four gamblers
as they attempt to give up their addiction....more> |
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The
Naked Breast
The Naked Breast brings out the breast in our society. This
documentary takes a look at the breast in the twenty first
century through upbeat interviews with New Zealand women
and men. We explore attitudes, desires and a good dose
of realism. Breastfeeding, breast cancer, nipple piercing,
breast implants and reductions, and the uplifting industry
of underfashions come under the spotlight. The Naked Breast
follows our breasts through society as they flirt with
fashion, give life and take life. The Naked
Breast broadens the context in which breasts are
generally viewed in media in a fun and informative fashion.
The breast, irrespective of size, is responsible for the
survival of the species and unfortunately, the death of
more women each year than our national road toll....more> |
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Search
Against Time
If you're lost, stranded, or injured somewhere in the
New Zealand bush, or even in the suburbs, how do you know
you're going to be found? Who's going to find you?
Search Against Time is an observational documentary looking
behind the scenes of that most New Zealand of organisations,
Land Search and Rescue (SAR). Shot mostly
in Canterbury, it features the vital role played
by the trained volunteers; the hundreds of
men and women who are prepared to drop what
they're doing for no return other than the satisfaction
of helping others. We focus on two searches;
the Ashburton search for Kirsty Bentley; before it became
a police operation, and an intensive six day search
looking for an elderly tramper lost on
Mt Grey. ...more> |
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Dying
to Eat
This documentary allowed sufferers and their families
to tell their personal stories in the daily battle against
anorexia nervoa and bulimia nervosa; the signs, the struggles,
the guilt, and the long road to recovery. This documentary
shows anorexia is not a state of mind that can be turned
off and on at will. This illness can, and does,
happen to anyone. No galmourising of thinness, no
using of skeletal forms; just ordinary New Zealand families
caught in the grip of this tenacious, complex and often
fatal illness.
Dying to Eat explores the complexity of the illness,
the importance of early treatment and reinforces the need
for community support, understanding, and openness....more> |
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Making
Ends Meet
When we speak of the poor in this country, it's always
file footage from the state house ghettos of Otara.
These images of people, usually Polynesian, frequently
unemployed or single parents, are the images we've come
to associate with poverty now we've finally got used to
the word. Those on benefits are the neatly audited
underclass of New Zealand. There is another social stratum
which we can define as poor by our own and international
standards. The working poor. And because of
the way our system works the families social researchers
describe as 'those reliant on limited income paid employment
(poorly paid jobs) are often worse off than those on benefits.
Making Ends Meets follows three families
to test out the premise that if you can just get a job
then everything will be all right. That you can
pull yourself up by your bootstraps. That poverty
can be averted by a bit of good honest work....more> |
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Scorched
Memories
Forty-one people perished in what is still the greatest
fire disaster in New Zealand's history. The Court
of Inquiry's findings apportion blame, but no one was
held to be accountable. Would a Court of Inquiry
today reach that same conclusion? This documentary traces
moment by moment the events of that day, looks at
the circumstances that permitted it to happen and asks
the questions who was responsible
and should they have been held to account? On Tuesday
18 November, firemen in Colombo Street were still
dampening down the charred remains of the bodies of forty-one
staff and the shell of Ballantynes Department store.
At near-by King Edward Barracks, the staff were assembled
and a roll call taken, and about now were becoming aware
of the gravity of the situation. This chilling story of
human tragedy contains all the elements of grand drama:
heroism, mystery, intrigue. ...more> |
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