NZ On Screen has relaunched with a brand new website and a pay-per-view
streaming service, making Kiwi films available on demand for the first time in the
organisation’s history.
Since launching in 2008, NZ On Screen has built a massive catalogue of over 5,600
free to view titles spanning films, television series, documentaries, short films, music
videos and commercials made on our shores. The website has been a critical
resource for contextualising NZ screen history, with editorial content, production
histories and behind-the-scenes material sitting alongside the titles themselves.
A lot has changed since 2008, particularly Kiwi’s’ relationship with screens. Back
then, the streaming model was in its infancy. The idea of on-demand
viewing was still a novelty. Now, it’s the norm. But while the on-demand
model matured and became the primary way people consume media, New Zealand’s
own titles faced a major challenge. Accessibility. It became harder to find ourselves
in the near endless ocean of international content.
NZ On Screen has met that challenge by bringing its new rental library and free
collection together in one dedicated place, making it easier to
rediscover Kiwi classics and lesser known titles, and to explore the stories that
shape us.
Alongside the broader screen offer already on the site, new titles include the
legendary political thriller Sleeping Dogs, 90s cult classic Scarfies, early 2000s comedy
essential Sione’s Wedding, the internationally acclaimed Boy and Hunt for the Wilderpeople,
Pike River starring Robyn Malcolm, and the 2024 box office smash Tinā.
It’s a breadth of accessibility not seen before for New Zealand-
made content, actually watchable, discoverable and immediate in the way modern
audiences expect.
For Kiwi filmmakers like Roger Donaldson this marks a moment of restoration
for the films that made us who we are today. “When we made Sleeping Dogs and
Smash Palace we had no idea these films would be part of the genesis of the New
Zealand film industry,” says Donaldson. “I’m pleased they can now be discovered by
a new generation of Kiwis.”
For NZ On Screen, this relaunch marks a new chapter for the organisation that
has spent nearly two decades consistently keeping Kiwi screen culture alive. Now,
with a focus shift towards increasing discoverability, they’ve built the foundation for a screen
legacy that lasts.
Check out the new NZ On Screen: nzonscreen.com
