Russell Campbell, Adjunct Professor of Film at VUW and LHP Treasurer has compiled this incredibly comprehensive list of films and TV programmes featuring New Zealanders at work.
See also: New Zealand Workers On Screen: Part 1 – On the Job
Industrial disputes and trade union history
FIGHTING BACK (1949) Nga Taonga F7420
The 1949 Auckland carpenters’ strike.
View at https://www.ngataonga.org.nz/search-use-collection/search/F7420/
NAVY MINERS (1951)
Navy personnel maintain coal production on the West Coast during the 1951 miners’ strike.
View at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8QgzeFNbGFg
PERSONAL RECORD. [SAILORS WORK THE WHARVES – 1951 LOCKOUT] (1951) Nga Taonga F2607
The 1951 waterfront lockout – sailors working the wharves.
View at https://www.ngataonga.org.nz/search-use-collection/search/F2607/
[WATERFRONT LOCKOUT 1951] (1951) Nga Taonga F10461
The 1951 waterfront lockout – actuality footage.
Not currently available online. See https://www.ngataonga.org.nz/search-use-collection/search/F10461/
THE 1951 WATERFRONT LOCKOUT AND OTHER UNION STRUGGLES (c1952) Nga Taonga F23190
Union activity in Auckland 1949-52.
Not currently available online. See https://www.ngataonga.org.nz/search-use-collection/search/F23190/
GALLERY – POST OFFICE GO SLOW (1970)
A long-running postal workers’ industrial dispute is resolved through on-air mediation.
View at http://www.nzonscreen.com/title/gallery—post-office-go-slow-1970
View at https://www.nzonscreen.com/title/gallery-ending-post-office-go-slow-1970
PERSONAL RECORD – PIERCE, RUSSELL. [FOL MASS RALLY FROM INTER ISLAND TERMINAL -1976] (1976) Nga Taonga F101804 Federation of Labour mass rally march including Seamen’s Union, Drivers Union and Harbour Board Workers contingents.
Not currently available online. See https://www.ngataonga.org.nz/search-use-collection/search/F101804/
LOCKED OUT: JOCK BARNES 25 YEARS ON
The 1951 waterfront lockout from the point of view of watersiders’ leader Jock Barnes.
Not currently available online. Catalogued by Ngā Taonga as ENCOUNTER – 1951 LOCKOUT. See https://www.ngataonga.org.nz/search-use-collection/search/TZP1216/
THE HAMMER AND THE ANVIL (1980) Nga Taonga F6407
A survey history of working people and the trade union movement in NZ.
Not currently available online. See https://www.ngataonga.org.nz/search-use-collection/search/F6407/
A CENTURY OF STRUGGLE (1981) Nga Taonga F8857
The hundred-year history of the NZ Seamen’s Union.
View at www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8dauirtYSU
WILDCAT (1981) Nga Taonga F958
The 1977 Bay of Plenty timberworkers’ strike for democracy in their union.
View at www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAtiWBt6jbk
THE BRIDGE (1982) Nga Taonga F5184
The 1978-80 Mangere Bridge construction workers’ lockout.
Not currently available online. See https://www.ngataonga.org.nz/search-use-collection/search/TZP80775/
EVEN DOGS ARE GIVEN BONES (1982)
The sit-in for redundancy pay by women workers at the Rixen clothing factory in Levin.
View at https://www.ngataonga.org.nz/search-use-collection/search/F264385/
KINLEITH ’80 (1982) Nga Taonga F5560
The 1980 strike at the Kinleith Pulp and Paper Mill.
View at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xl9GPhvumb8
THE HATRED CAMPAIGN (1985) Nga Taonga F24760
The killing of caretaker Ernie Abbott by a bombing at Wellington Trades Hall is examined in the context of anti-union rhetoric from the National Government.
View at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ka88SGMCGtE
or https://www.reddit.com/r/newzealand/comments/16b5niz/the_hatred_campaign_1985_bombing_in_wellington/
Also see https://www.ngataonga.org.nz/search-use-collection/search/F24760/
IN OUR OWN TIME – UNEMPLOYED RESPOND TO UNEMPLOYMENT (988) Nga Taonga F6766
Not currently available online. See https://www.ngataonga.org.nz/search-use-collection/search/F6766/
SHATTERED DREAMS (1990) Nga Taonga F21878
The 1951 waterfront lockout.
View at https://www.ngataonga.org.nz/search-use-collection/search/F21878/
1951 (2001) Nga Taonga F50539
The 1951 waterfront lockout.
View at http://www.nzonscreen.com/title/1951-2001
SYD JACKSON – LIFE AND TIMES OF A FULLY FLEDGED ACTIVIST (2003) Nga Taonga F56053
Syd Jackson’s activism including work as Secretary of the Northern Clerical Workers’ Union.
View at http://www.nzonscreen.com/title/syd-jackson-life-and-times-of-a-fully-fledged-activist-2003
A CIVILISED SOCIETY (2008) Nga Taonga F108218
Teacher unions battle attempts to impose bulk funding and individual employment contracts.
View at http://www.nzonscreen.com/title/a-civilised-society-2006
Note also
HUNGRY MILES (1955) Nga Taonga F110748
History of the industrial conflicts of the Waterside Workers’ Federation (Australia)
See https://www.ngataonga.org.nz/search-use-collection/search/F110748/