New Zealand Art, Literature and Film

A number of prominent and critically acclaimed artists hail from New Zealand. Frances Hodgkins (1869-1947) and Colin McCahon (1919-1987) are two of the most famous 20th-century Kiwi painters. Hodgkins left New Zealand in 1913 for London, eventually becoming a leading figure in watercolor figurative painting, and then in oils. McCahon retained his Kiwi base and is considered one of the most important influences on indigenous modern art. In recent years, New Zealand has become renowned for its innovative and eco-friendly design practices, displayed by the modern cityscapes of Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch.

New Zealand has its share of literary stars as well. Katherine Mansfield (1888-1923), a short-story writer, was another WWI expat in Britain. Her best-known collections are The Garden Party (1922) and Bliss (1920). Mansfield’s childhood home in Wellington has been preserved as a museum . Dame Ngaio Marsh (1895-1982), most famous for her mystery series featuring detective Roderick Alleyn, stayed firmly rooted in New Zealand as a member of the leading artistic group in Christchurch in the mid-1900s. Other notable New Zealand writers are nature poet extraordinaire James K. Baxter (1926-1972), and novelist Janet Frame (1924-2004), best known for her autobiographical An Angel at My Table (1985).

Maori writers have recently surged onto the literary scene. Patricia Grace (b. 1937), of Ngati Raukawa, Ngati Toa, and Te Ati Awa descent, is known for the bittersweet coming-of-age story Mutuwhenua: The Moon Sleeps (1978). Witi Ihimaera (b. 1944), whose recent book The Whale Rider (2003) was adapted for the screen, explored father-son relationships in Tangi (1973). Perhaps the best-known Maori author is Keri Hulme (b. 1947), a South Islander of Scottish, English, and Ngai Tahu descent. Her novel, The Bone People, won the 1985 Booker Prize. More recently, Alan Duff (b. 1950) earned the spotlight for his hit Once Were Warriors (1992) and its sequel What Becomes of the Broken-Hearted (1997).

Geographic isolation hasn’t disconnected New Zealand from musical trends of the past. Kiwis embraced the 1970s punk movement, led by the influential Christchurch label Flying Nun. In the 1980s, Split Enz and its offshoot Crowded House enjoyed worldwide popularity as part of the New Wave movement. Alternative rock has also gained popularity, with student band Zed’s popular album Silencer and hits from Th’Dudes’, including “Be Mine Tonight.” The rock arena has featured Kiwi acts such as The Feelers, Elemeno P, and Bleeders. Brooke Fraser, the daughter of All Blacks (see Rugby) legend Bernie Fraser, has made waves with her alt-rock folk style. Reggae-inspired groove groups such as Fat Freddy’s Drop are perhaps the countries most popular performers and tour regularly with the ever present summer reggae festivals. A recent addition to the New Zealand music scene is Chinese-Maori Bic Runga, known for her hit song “Sway.” Check out The Fix, a free glossy magazine, for info on the Auckland electronic scene. Down in Wellington, DJ Mu demonstrates his skills on the vinyl, while Manuel Bundy crisscrosses the country with rhythmically centered beats.

New Zealand’s premier professional orchestra, the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, enjoys an excellent reputation and travels over 20,000km a year to perform. Internationally renowned opera star and New Zealand native Dame Kiri Te Kanawa also performs for audiences worldwide.

Film

New Zealand’s native film industry was not fully established until the 1970s, but it has made a big impact both in Hollywood and Bollywood as a favorite site for filming. One notable figure from the early film scene was Len Lye (1901-1980), a kinetic sculptor and modern filmmaker of the 60s. The early 70s saw works mainly by independent filmmakers. A significant event in New Zealand film during this time, and a major benchmark for the representation of the Maori, was the release of Tangata Whenua: The People of the Land (1974), a six-part documentary series by Maori filmmaker Barry Barclay.

In 1978, the government created the New Zealand Film Commission, which encourages and supports the film industry. Since then, recent films made in New Zealand have become both popular and critical hits. One-sixth of the country viewed Goodbye Pork Pie (1981), directed by Geoff Murphy. A film every Kiwi will tell you to see is Once Were Warriors (1994), an adaptation of the Alan Duff novel, by prominent director Lee Tamahori. Jane Campion’s The Piano (1993), filmed in New Zealand, broke box office records and won two Cannes Film Festival awards and a Best Supporting Actress Oscar for native New Zealander Anna Paquin. Kiwis claim the rough, tough, and buff Gladiator Russell Crowe and the equally rough, tough, and buff Xena: Warrior Princess Lucy Lawless as natives. Adopted Kiwi Sam Neill grew up on South Island before landing coveted roles in The Hunt for Red October (1990), Jurassic Park (1993), Event Horizon (1997), and Jurassic Park III (2001). Writer-director and Wellingtonian Peter Jackson first made a name for himself making horror films like the 1992 zombie-and-lawnmower-psycho smash hit Braindead or Dead Alive. However, it is the Lord of the Rings trilogy, filmed entirely in New Zealand, which brought Tolkien fans and moviegoers to the edge of their seats. Niki Caro’s Whale Rider (2003), based on the novel by Witi Ihimaera, moved audiences with its powerful story of a spiritually gifted Maori girl. As a result of the international success of the Tolkien trilogy and Whale Rider, New Zealand’s Maori and Pakeha behind the scenes movie production has skyrocketed with Kiwis hired for stunts, special effects, and set building.