Benmore and Otematata, today and yesterday - TVNZ ondemand connects two generations

Part of a recent cycle tour involved an overnight stay at Otematata and lap of Lake Aviemore (over Benmore Dam). Most on the trip, even me the “token Kiwi”,  were puzzled why there’s a 60 room hotel and little else at Otematata. Then it clicked that this was the project town for the Benmore Dam construction. Today apart from the impressive dams, lakes and that hotel there is little evidence that about 40 years ago over 4,500, including some of my relatives*, lived and worked there. As you can see from the photos what remains is beautiful.

On returning home I was looking at the recently launched TVNZ ondemand. This is TVNZ’s Internet based channel with shows for download. Some require subscription but there is lots of free content including content from the NZBC/TVNZ archives. The site is nicely done and with a reasonable broadband connection you get good quality video.

In the “Classic” section I spied a feature about Benmore from the series “These New Zealanders” . It was filmed in 1964 and shows Otematata in the middle of the construction period. Having just been there I was interested to see the footage of the valley before construction, the work that was done and how Otematata looked in very different times. Even without the local interest it’s worth a look to see how much both New Zealand and TV has changed;

• Selwyn “It’s in the bag” Toogood speaking best “BBC Kiw’english”. –  Wasn’t till probably the 70’s until you heard the natural Kiwi accent on TV.
• A construction worker rolls & smokes a cigarette while being interviewed, probably in his “smoko” break. – In todays smokefree world it’s strange to see.
• The Voxpop question responses which probably weren’t those they expected, but still didn’t get cut. – Asking the local: “Is Otematata a good place to bring up children?”, “No”
• They show quite small children boxing!  –  While we were there all the news was about the “Anti-Smacking Bill”.

View “These New Zealanders” Benmore at TVNZ ondemand (* look for a brief appearance by “Mrs Muirhead” at about 08:30)

UPDATE 27–03–2007: Only after reading the fine print did I find that these videos will only work within New Zealand. Pity as know many OE Kiwi’s who’d like to see them including “Mrs Muirhead”!