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A film remastered by Archives New Zealand has won a bronze medal at the New York Festival's Film and Video Competition.
Archives Minister Judith Tizard said This is New Zealand had not been available for public viewing for more than 30 years because three projectors were required to screen it.
However, the National Film Unit had restored and remastered it so the three images could be screened using one projector.
"I'm delighted that the film took out a Bronze World Medal in the festival's special venue film section," Ms Tizard said.
"This award is a great credit to all those involved in both the making and recent remastering of the film."
The original director, Hugh Macdonald, helped oversee the intermediate process and Kit Rollings, the original sound mixer, worked on the new sound track.
Two million people saw the film at the Osaka Expo '70 and on its return home it was seen by nearly a quarter of adult New Zealanders.
"Having the film re-mastered is a great preservation success and as a result New Zealanders can see the film following the official New Zealand premiere in March," Ms Tizard said.
- NZPA