HISTORIC FILM.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19179, 9 December 1927, Page 8

HISTORIC FILM.

RECORD OF EARLY MAORIS.

[THE PRESS SpecUl Service.]

WELLINGTON, December 8

Life in New Zealand long oei'ore luo days of the Pakeha. when the Maori was the sole inhabitant of this country and the now extinct moa roamed the land, will be depicted in a film which the Government has been taking at Rotorua during the past fortnight. To serve as a historical record of the dawn of civilisation in the Dominion is the object of the picture, and in it will be portrayed every phase of daily life among the Maoris, including their arts and crafts, their customs and superstitions, the preparation and cooking of food, and war dances and exercises of the natives.

Over sixty Maoris garbed in native costume took part in the production, and two cinema operators were engaged, while over two hundred still photographs were taken. Some twenty thousand feet of film were utilised and this has yet to be developed, and the title and sub-titles inserted. When completed, the picture will be released by the Government Publicity Department for screening in all parts of the world.

"It will serve as an imperishable record of the native race," says Mr A. H. Messenger, of the Department, "and will a'so show some of the romantic side of Maori life. The Maoris realised that wo were taking the film for historical purposes and assisted us handsomely in every way."