NZ’s Bird of the Century, pūteketeke/Australasian crested grebes are certainly unique - but they don’t always have it easy.

Claudia Babirat introduces three ten-minute films and filmmakers from the final intake of students to complete the Natural History Filmmaking Post-Grad Diploma in Science Communication at Otago University.

The three films chosen for this special screening tell stories on our rare and endangered birds and their human champions.

Dancing with Grebes

Crowned NZ’s Bird of the Century, pūteketeke /Australasian crested grebes are certainly unique - but they don’t always have it easy. This is the story of how conservationist John Darby’s efforts to help pūteketeke raise their chicks on Lake Wānaka have captured the hearts of an entire community.

Underbirds - The Fight to Save The Southern NZ Dotterel

With only 167 birds left in the wild, a team of dedicated rangers are on a mission to save the tūturiwhatu / Southern New Zealand dotterel on Rakiura Stewart Island.

A Day at the OPERA - The Hoiho’s Encore

Set up in 1985 as one of the first self-funded ecotourism ventures to protect the vulnerable hoiho / yellow-eyed penguin, Penguin Place is now known as OPERA: the Otago Peninsula Eco Restoration Alliance. How will the new owners help the survival of hoiho in the face of habitat destruction and a warming ocean?

Between the screenings, Claudia will give some insights some insights on what it was like to be one of first natural history film students at Otago University, a course that began in 2001.

Thank you to the students who have freely offered their films for screening during the Festival: ‘Dancing with Grebes’ a film by Rhys Latton, Leslie Stone, Shania Riethmann; ‘The Underbirds’ a film by Brady Clarke, Abi Liddell, Isabella Lewis; ‘A Day at the OPERA’ a film by Cate Davidson, Molly Oldershaw.

6pm, Monday 22 April
Barclay Theatre
Free – Booking Required

If you miss out on this premiere, the films will be screened from 11am – 2pm, 23 April, 24 April and 26 April in the Barclay Theatre.