Long-watch docs

Explore RNZ’s catalogue of documentaries.

Long-watch docs series and films

A bagpipe band stand in a field ready to perform. The text reads: "12,000 Miles from NZ to the Green."

12,000 Miles

Follow the Kiwis taking on the world at the World Pipe Band Champs in Scotland.
3 episodes
36m
In India, a group of people walk down a path in front of a historic building. Above the building in orange reads: "1984"

1984

Survivors of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots in India seek asylum in Aotearoa.
Film
1h 4m
A hillside is draped with a large Māori flag, on the ridge line stands a single figure and another Māori flag. Text in a painted font reads "Ake Ake Ake"

Ake Ake Ake

The story of the land occupation at Ihumātao in words of those that were there.
3 episodes
55m
Black and white photo of a portion of a team sports photo. Only two men visible with crossed arms. Text reads, "All Blacks at War".

All Blacks at War

Andrew Mehrtens MNZM shares the story of the 13 All Blacks killed in WWI.
Film
44m
A man sits silhouetted on some steps leading down to the water in a cave. He glances out over the incoming waves. Yellow text reads: "BEING Niuean. 50 YEARS OF PULE FAKAMOTU."

Being Niuean

Nominated
50 years of self-governance on the Rock.
Film
44m
A wide long beach withe dark grey sand and blue ocean. Text reads, "Chatham Islanders, Tchakat Tchatam Airani". There is an illustration of an indigenous Moriori tree carving in between the words "Chatham" and "Islanders".

Chatham Islanders

A documentary series about life on Aotearoa's remotest island.
7 episodes
26m
Framed by a purple fabric design is a plus-size model in a green dress. In front of her, in black-on-white text, reads: "CUTTING THE CURVE."

Cutting the Curve

Among diet drugs & shrinking ideals, curve & plus-size women fight to be seen.
6 episodes
10m
Black text on a beige background, text reads "Fight for the Wild". Behind the text are three illustrations, one is of New Zealand the other is a disembodied head of a Tūī and the third is a fantail.

Fight for the Wild

Documentary series exploring the notion of a Predator Free 2050 in Aotearoa.
4 episodes
45m
In a black-and-white photograph, a Māori woman speaks into a microphone in front of a crowd. Her fist is raised defiantly in the air. below the woman, at the bottom of the image, the text reads in yellow lettering: "THE HAKA PARTY INCIDENT."

The Haka Party Incident

Nominated
The last New Zealand war took place in 1979. It lasted three minutes.
Film
1h 28m
Bob Lowry, wearing an eyepatch, crown, and shirt with the words "In the country of the blind, the man" before it's cut off, holds a finger in the air. The graphic is white and teal with a title to the left of him which reads: "I Am a Dark River"

I Am a Dark River

NZ printer & publisher Bob Lowry, through the eyes of his granddaughter Tess.
Film
1h 10m
A black-and-white image of a smiling Joy Cowley sitting on a swing. Large text in the background of the image reads: "Joy Full & Fearless."

Joy, Full & Fearless

The trauma & triumph of celebrated author Joy Cowley's astonishing life.
Film
56m
The side profile of a man holding a guitar with a microphone on a stand in front of him. Text reads, "Legacy: Katchafire" and has a boarder around the perimeter of the frame.

Katchafire: Legacy

Katchafire's journey through creative differences & a changing music landscape.
Film
53m
Six seperate images arranged in two rows of three, content of the photos include, a man playing a trumpet, graffiti, a group shot of four men. Text across the middle reads, "Marauders".

MARAUDERS

Glorious handycam footage from the Fat Freddy's Drop 2003 debut European tour.
4 seasons/28 episodes
9m
The silhouette of a man against a sun either rising or setting, the sky is mostly green with a thin bank of orange light along the horizon. Text reads, "Meng".

Meng

A year in the life of Race Relations Commissioner Meng Foon.
Film
52m
A group of Pasifika women pose for a picture. Below them the text reads: "Myths & Maidens."

Myths & Maidens

New episode
Some of the trauma, challenges, & inequities of fafine Moana across Pasifika.
Film
56m
We see a coastline of New Zealand. On the right is the land; on the left is the ocean; above are clouds. Golden text in the middle reads: "STOLEN LANDS A HIGHLANDER'S QUEST."

Stolen Lands

A Highlander’s journey to Aotearoa meets a legacy of land & loss.
2 seasons/10 episodes
21m
An archival picture of a group of Pacific Islanders posing for a group picture. The text reads "Untold Pacific History"

Untold Pacific History

A dynamic and often provocative account of NZ's relationship with the Pacific.
2 seasons/8 episodes
14m
A sand dune with the ocean behind it in a cove, everything shadowy and violet in the twilight. The text reads "Whitiki! Whītī! Whītī! E!"

Whitiki

The stories of three WWI Māori Pioneers, through the eyes of their descendants.
Film
52m

More to watch

If you are interested in Long-watch docs you might also want to check out some of our other series and films.
In an animated graphic, the top of a man's face is seen in front of fence, above which are a collection of native New Zealand birds. In the middle of the image, in the middle of the birds, is the text: "BIRD'S EYE VIEW 2."
A portrait of a child looking into the camera. On their head is a collection of blue and green strips of ribbon that intertwine with their long braided hair. They are wearing a blue shirt, a jacket and a bow tie. Text reads, "Loading Docs". Beside the text is a simple graphic circle meant to look like a roll of film.
In India, a group of people walk down a path in front of a historic building. Above the building in orange reads: "1984"
On a dark-brown background, the light-brown text reads: "MATA REPORTS."
A transparent figure of the back of a man, overlayed with another transparent image of the same figure but just his shoulders and back of his head. Text reads, "Duality". it's written in transparent white block letters and yellow cursive overlapped.
A man operating a cannon, theres smoke coming out of it and a man next to it holding his hands over his ears. Text reads, "NZ Wars: Stories of Waitara".
Side profile of a persons face, silhouetted against a setting sun out of frame. Text reads, "Imposter".
Three figures from different original images have been edited so that they're all standing next to each other and are of varying sizes. All three people are in the midst of performing. The background in a flat bright red colour. Text in the style of graffiti reads, "The Collective". A spray painted illustration of a crown appears above the 'e' in 'Collective'.
Black and white faces of Helen Clark, Dame Jenny Shipley, Jim Bolger Geoffrey Palmer and Mike Moore, with the words 'The 9th Floor' underneath them. The background of the image is black.
A man is wearing a suit and tie and smiling at the camera with his head slightly tilted to the left. He has a thick moustache, behind him the room is dark but seems to be an office. Text reads, "The Citizen's Handbook" in light pink.
Charlotte Cook leaning on a bench and smiling. Beside her is a stack of cookbooks and a bowl of tomatoes. Text reads, "Grilled, with Charlotte Cook".
A sepia toned image of a family photograph depicting a woman holding the hands of two young children. The photo is deteriorating and the child on the left is almost obscured by the damage. The text reads, "Farewell Guangdong" there are also four Chinese characters, or 'Hanzi', above the text.
A man in traditional Māori dress and a full face tā moko is standing in the forest. He is holding a wooden pole object. Text reads, "NZ Wars: Stories of Wairau".
The back of someone looking up at a big red firework exploding in the night sky. Text reads, "Giants Giants Giants". The last "Giants" fades into the background.
A large group of people protesting, they're all holding signs. Text reads, "Hīkoi, Speaking Our Truth".
Black text on a beige background, text reads "Fight for the Wild". Behind the text are three illustrations, one is of New Zealand the other is a disembodied head of a Tūī and the third is a fantail.
Text reads, "Matangireia with Morgan Godfery". Background is beige with an out of focus letter M in fancy script.
In a graphic made up of differently coloured brown tiles, the two main hosts of Whakamāori season three pose. Behind them is text reading: "WHAKAMĀORI."
Woman looking into the camera, standing side on. She has a staunch expression and Is wearing a bright pink blouse. Text reads, "Breaking Silence". Text and woman stand against a dark, almost black background.
A man standing in front of a mural of the Tino Rangatiratanga flag (Māori flag). Text reads, "Hori on a Hīkoi".
Person on purple background resting their head in their hand. Only their head and chest is visible. Purple text along bottom of image reads, "AMPLIFIED".
A yellow baroque style wallpaper. A white line drawing of a house is in the bottom right corner. White handwritten text reads, "Kāinga".
A person on a BMX bike jumping over the camera, silhouetted against a cloudy sky. Text reads, "No Limits".
Young man with soot on his face looking into the camera, in his left hand he's holding a Patu (weapon). Text reads, "NZ Wars: Stories of Tauranga Moana".