The Brokenwood Mysteries, Series 2
(Prime, 2015)
The New Zealand dry humour and small-town setting come once again to the fore, lending their charm to these four cosy-ish murder mysteries. Immersive in the unravelling, several of the crimes/investigations do reveal killers with dubious motives. (‘Blood Pink’ proves especially egregious.)
The Brokenwood Mysteries, Series 1
(Prime, 2014)
Four feature-length murder mysteries: the usual schtick but with a New Zealand flavour. The first episode is a bit so-so but the two leads quickly prove endearing, the dynamic further enhanced once DC Breen is given screen time as their third wheel.
Wrinkly Tin: The Story of Corrugated Iron in New Zealand
by Stuart Thomson (Steele Roberts, 2005)
Beautifully titled, suitably nostalgic. A curious blend of historical and technical information, with the text given a little too much prominence. (Several photos would have benefited from a more wholehearted embracing of the coffee table book design ethos.) Don’t read the poems.
Did I Ever Tell You This? A Memoir
by Sam Neill (Text Publishing, 2023); audiobook read by Sam Neill (W. F. Howes, 2023)
Affable and almost determinedly unpretentious. Neill leans towards good-natured anecdotes, revealing of himself and others. He reminisces about life and work, his childhood(s) in Ireland and New Zealand, family, friends, wine, illness. It all breezes by, diverting and chummy in the moment.
Money in the Morgue
by Ngaio Marsh & Stella Duffy (Collins Crime Club, 2018)
The murder mystery is astutely handled. Inspector Alleyn appears earlier than usual and the entire affair takes place over the course of one night, adding a sense of urgency. The espionage angle is less convincing—perhaps explaining why Marsh abandoned the work-in-progress?
Children of the Dog Star
by Ken Catran; dir. Chris Bailey (TVNZ, 1984)
6-part children’s SF series with a vibe similar to Chocky or Children of the Stones (and like those programmes most effective in the eerie setup phase). The young actors do quite well and the New Zealand setting is refreshing. Memorable theme music.
Underrunners
by Margaret Mahy (Viking, 1992); audiobook read by Richard Mitchley (Brilliance, 2017)
Set in rural New Zealand, a down-to-earth middle-grade exploration of hope, disappointment and making the most of things; of using imagination as a coping mechanism yet still facing up to reality. Mahy plumps for realism and character development over clichéd happy endings.
The New Legends of Monkey, Season 2
The plot this season is more coherent and engaging, though in an odd inversion of the 1970s production, Monkey’s vain, rather dim-witted character proves the weakest of the regulars. Josh Thomson is masterful as Pigsy, showcasing New Zealand’s distinct brand of humour.
Guns Akimbo
dir. Jason Lei Howden (2020)
Daniel Radcliffe works hard to carry this stylised and at times highly violent action comedy. (‘Comedy’ is used here advisedly; a pervasive graphic novel vibe all but obliterates the film’s understated New Zealand humour.) Clunky characterisation and scripting undercut the intended satire.
Mrs Windyflax and the Pungapeople
by Barry Crump; ill. Murray Ball (Hodder Moa Beckett, 1995)
Though Crump’s rhyming verse and storyline aren’t up to much, Ball renders this children’s picture book visually resplendent through a mix of vibrant cartoon watercolours and his more usual Footrot Flats-type illustrations. The New Zealand landscapes offer a pleasing point of difference.