The Governor (TV series)
Encyclopedia
The Governor was a 1977 New Zealand television miniseries or docudrama on Sir George Grey, co-produced by TV One and the National Film Unit
, with Grey played by English actor Corin Redgrave
. There were six parts, screened from Sunday 2 October 1977; the series has not been rescreened as TV One omitted to obtain repeat rights.
The series was about Sir George Grey as Governor of New Zealand 1845-53 & 1861-68. In the nineteenth century he was both Governor and (later) Prime Minister of New Zealand
, and Governor of South Australia and Governor of the Cape Colony. Neville describes him as “a Victorian gentleman, a drug addict (he used laudanum) and a lecher”. The cost (with over-runs) was $
1 million, and Prime Minister
Robert Muldoon
instigated an investigation by the parliamentary public expenditure committee into budgeting and the control of expenditure in television. The series also aroused controversy because of the emphasis on Grey’s private life, and the dialogue in the Māori language
, often without subtitles.
Keith Aberdein wrote the script, from an idea by Michael Noonan
, and carried out his own historical research and interviews. The series was produced by Tony Isaac. It won the 1978 Feltex Award for best drama, and Episode 4 won the award for best script.
National Film Unit
The National Film Unit was a state-owned film production organisation in New Zealand. Founded in 1941, it mostly produced newsreels, documentaries and promotional films about New Zealand, and for many years was the only significant film production facility in the country...
, with Grey played by English actor Corin Redgrave
Corin Redgrave
Corin William Redgrave was an English actor and political activist.-Early life:Redgrave was born in Marylebone, London, the only son and middle child of actors Michael Redgrave and Rachel Kempson...
. There were six parts, screened from Sunday 2 October 1977; the series has not been rescreened as TV One omitted to obtain repeat rights.
The series was about Sir George Grey as Governor of New Zealand 1845-53 & 1861-68. In the nineteenth century he was both Governor and (later) Prime Minister of New Zealand
Prime Minister of New Zealand
The Prime Minister of New Zealand is New Zealand's head of government consequent on being the leader of the party or coalition with majority support in the Parliament of New Zealand...
, and Governor of South Australia and Governor of the Cape Colony. Neville describes him as “a Victorian gentleman, a drug addict (he used laudanum) and a lecher”. The cost (with over-runs) was $
New Zealand dollar
The New Zealand dollar is the currency of New Zealand. It also circulates in the Cook Islands , Niue, Tokelau, and the Pitcairn Islands. It is divided into 100 cents....
1 million, and Prime Minister
Prime Minister of New Zealand
The Prime Minister of New Zealand is New Zealand's head of government consequent on being the leader of the party or coalition with majority support in the Parliament of New Zealand...
Robert Muldoon
Robert Muldoon
Sir Robert David "Rob" Muldoon, GCMG, CH served as the 31st Prime Minister of New Zealand from 1975 to 1984, as leader of the governing National Party. Muldoon had been a prominent member of the National party and MP for the Tamaki electorate for some years prior to becoming leader of the party...
instigated an investigation by the parliamentary public expenditure committee into budgeting and the control of expenditure in television. The series also aroused controversy because of the emphasis on Grey’s private life, and the dialogue in the Māori language
Maori language
Māori or te reo Māori , commonly te reo , is the language of the indigenous population of New Zealand, the Māori. It has the status of an official language in New Zealand...
, often without subtitles.
Keith Aberdein wrote the script, from an idea by Michael Noonan
Michael Noonan (writer)
Michael John Noonan was an Australian / New Zealand novelist and radio script writer...
, and carried out his own historical research and interviews. The series was produced by Tony Isaac. It won the 1978 Feltex Award for best drama, and Episode 4 won the award for best script.
The Episodes
- The Reverend Traitor: Grey and the missionary Henry WilliamsHenry Williams- Politicians :* Henry Williams , British Member of Parliament for Brecon, elected 1604* Sir Henry Williams, 2nd Baronet , British Member of Parliament for Brecon and Breconshire...
(Grant TillyGrant TillyGrant Tilly is a New Zealand actor, writer, and artist.- Biography :Tilly was born in Sydney, Australia in 1937, moving with his family to New Zealand at one month of age. He was educated in Wellington, taking art at Wellington technical College in the early 1950s...
) - No Way to treat a Lady: Grey and his wife Eliza (Judy Cleine)
- The Mutinous Lieutenant: Grey and Edward John EyreEdward John EyreEdward John Eyre was an English land explorer of the Australian continent, colonial administrator, and a controversial Governor of Jamaica....
(Jeremy Stephens) - He Iwi Tahi Tatou (now we are one people): Grey and Wiremu Tamehana (Don SelwynDon SelwynDon C. Selwyn was a Maori actor and film director from New Zealand. He was a founding member of the New Zealand Maori Theatre Trust and directed the 2002 film The Merchant of Venice, the first Maori language feature film with English subtitles.Born of Ngati Kuri and Te Aupouri descent, Selwyn grew...
) - The Lame Seagull: Grey’s war with British general Sir Duncan Cameron (Martyn SandersonMartyn SandersonMartyn Sanderson was a New Zealand actor, filmmaker and poet.Sanderson was one of the founders of Downstage Theatre in 1964 in Wellington, with a vision of a small professional company performing challenging works in an intimate venue...
). - To the Death: Grey in the Mansion House on Kawau IslandKawau IslandKawau Island is an island in the Hauraki Gulf, close to the north-eastern coast of the North Island of New Zealand. At its closest point it lies off the coast of the North Auckland Peninsula, just south of Tawharanui Peninsula, and about by sea journey from Sandspit Wharf, and shelters Kawau Bay...
, looking back