Story: Documentary film

Filming underwater

This film, Rock bottom at Waikaremoana, was filmed in 1950 by the National Film Unit using specially developed equipment. The film concerned a project to block leaks in the bottom of Lake Waikaremoana to prevent wastage of the water, which was used for generating hydroelectric power. As this clip shows, in order to film underwater the film unit created a very large diving helmet which contained the camera as well as the head of the camera operator.

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Archives New Zealand - Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga
Reference: Rock bottom at Waikaremoana. National Film Unit, 1950

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How to cite this page:

Helen Martin, 'Documentary film - Educating the public – 1940 to 1960', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/video/43583/filming-underwater (accessed 29 March 2024)

Story by Helen Martin, published 22 Oct 2014