A dedicated home for New Zealand screen culture — free content, feature film rental, and
18 years of curatorial expertise, all in one place.
18 MAY 2026 — NZ On Screen (nzonscreen.com), the home of New Zealand’s screen
heritage, today relaunches with a brand new website and a major new feature: a transactional
video-on-demand service bringing a growing selection of feature films to Kiwi audiences, on a
platform dedicated exclusively to New Zealand screen culture.
As part of the relaunch, films from NZ Film On Demand — including Whale Rider, Hunt for the
Wilderpeople, Sleeping Dogs, and Sione’s Wedding — form the core of the new rental library,
alongside the thousands of titles already freely available on the site.
“This is the moment NZ On Screen becomes something genuinely new. We’ve always been the
place where New Zealand audiences can find, watch, and fall in love with our screen stories, old
and new. Now, for the first time, you can rent iconic feature films too. There is nothing else like this
in NZ.” — Stephanie Hopkins, Executive Director, Digital Media Trust
NZ On Screen has spent nearly two decades bringing New Zealand’s screen heritage off the shelf
and into the hands of audiences across Aotearoa — ensuring landmark and lesser-known titles
remain accessible long after they disappear from broadcast and streaming platforms.
Research published in December 2025 by the NZ Institute of Economic Research (NZIER) and
Verian found that 73% of New Zealanders agree locally made film and television are a key part of
national identity — yet the same research identified discoverability on digital platforms as one of
the sector’s most pressing challenges.
At a time when screen content is increasingly fragmented across platforms, and titles can quietly
drop out of sight or be buried in global catalogues, this combined offering plays an important role.
The relaunch: what’s new
New website
The relaunched website features:
- Redesigned navigation and discovery tools — browse by genre, era, filmmaker, or theme
- Enhanced editorial collections and curated viewing paths
- Improved social sharing and content embedding
- A future-proofed technical platform built for continued growth
The free collection — thousands of television shows, short films, documentaries, music videos,
interviews and web series, plus curated collections, profiles, and editorial context — remains
central to the platform.
New TVOD rental service
A major new feature is a new transactional video-on-demand service — a rental platform launching
with over 120 New Zealand feature films, available to watch at nzonscreen.com.
The on-demand library spans four decades of New Zealand filmmaking. Landmark features, cult
classics, award-winning documentaries, and essential contemporary releases are all included.
Boy, Tinā, Smash Palace and Scarfies are just some of the box office heavy hitters on offer at
launch, with more titles to be added over time.
The service is pay-per-view, with no subscription required. Films are available to viewers in New
Zealand, with titles priced at or under $6.99. A selection of short films are included with the NZ On
Screen TV app, and are free to view.
“When we made Sleeping Dogs and Smash Palace it was filmmaking on a shoestring — we had no
idea these films would be part of the genesis of the New Zealand film industry. Having these films
on NZ On Screen alongside early TV work — Derek and Winners & Losers — and with all the
interviews and behind-the-scenes footage, means the full story is finally in one place. I am pleased
they can now be discovered by a new generation of Kiwis.” — Roger Donaldson, director, producer, writer
The case for a dedicated platform
What makes NZ On Screen different from any other platform is the depth of what’s available.
Alongside the rental library, the site houses thousands of free-to-watch television shows, short
films, documentaries, music videos, interviews and web series — plus curated collections,
profiles, and editorial context built up over 18 years.
The cultural stakes are well evidenced. Around three in four New Zealanders say locally made
content helps them feel part of the national story and gives them hope for the future (NZIER/Verian,
2025).
“NZ On Screen elevates and celebrates content that has inspired and entertained New Zealanders
for decades, preserving this taonga while wrapping it in meaningful context. NZ On Screen — and
its new on demand service — are an important part of ensuring NZ screen content remains
accessible to New Zealanders for generations to come.” — Cameron Harland, Chief Executive, NZ On Air
The value proposition: small team, significant impact
NZ On Screen is run by the Digital Media Trust, a registered charity funded by NZ On Air. The
platform has operated since October 2008, building deep expertise in New Zealand screen culture,
licensing, content delivery, and audience development.
The shift to streaming has created urgent pressure to invest in “marketing and digital promotion so
that New Zealand audiences are aware of local content available on domestic VOD platforms”
(NZIER/Verian, 2025). NZ On Screen is purpose-built for exactly this role.
The ‘Lights, Camera, Impact’ report (NZIER and Verian, December 2025) was commissioned by the
New Zealand Film Commission, NZ On Air, and Te Māngai Pāho. It is available here.
