The Departure of the Second Contingent for the Boer War
New Zealand's oldest surviving film shows a troop of horsemen from the Boer War Second Contingent in camp at one of the open days held before their departure at Newtown Park, Wellington, likely 13 January 1900.
"It is a simple film... It lacks excitement other than the audience of the day's ability to identify each of the riders as they passed.... However, for all its simplicity and faults...its existence is a tribute to Whitehouse, New Zealand's film pioneer and Bartlett, New Zealand's first film cameraman." (p.30)
Collection reference F22555
Year 1900
Credits Cameraman: W.H. Bartlett; Producer: A.H. Whitehouse
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The World's First Lady Mayor
New Zealand's second oldest surviving film was identified by Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision in 2016 and shows Elizabeth Yates, a trailblazing politician, who was elected Mayor of Onehunga on 29 November 1893.
"It is a clever piece of camerawork and Mrs Yates is clearly enjoying the moment. The quality of the filming is in strong contrast to Whitehouse's film of the departure of the Second Contingent taken with the same equipment.." (p.36)
"This film is... the oldest complete film and the oldest New Zealand film to recreate an historic moment in New Zealand local politics." (p.37)
Collection reference F90103
Year 1900
Credits Camera: Enos Sylvanus Pegler; Production Co: Zealandia Living Picture Company
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Royal Visit of the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York to NZ 1901
A fragmentary record of the 1901 royal visit to New Zealand by the Duke of York and Duchess of Cornwall to thank New Zealanders for their contribution to the Boer War. It was filmed under contract from the New Zealand Government by the Limelight Department of the Salvation Army, led by Joseph Perry, who had become the "first large-scale commercial film producer in Australasia" (p.42)
"Perry's film of the medal presentation in the Octagon at Dunedin on 26 June 1901 survives. We see the duke and duchess under a canopied dais presenting medals to the South African War veterans."(p.63)
"Sadly, fragments of the royal tour films are all we have of the hundreds of films that Perry’s cameramen took in New Zealand between 1898 and 1910."(p.64)
Collection reference F2464
Year 1901
Credits Cameramen: Joseph Perry and others; Production Co: Limelight Department, Salvation Army
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All Blacks Versus Glamorgan
Fragments of footage showing the famous "original" All Blacks in action against Welsh side Glamorgan in 1905. This is one of two surviving films of that team, taken from an extract of a longer film about the 1924-25 "Invincible" All Blacks.
Collection reference F7026
Year 1905
Credits Cameraman: Unknown
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