NZ On Screen: 'The Long Lake'

The rich scenery around Lake Wakatipu has inspired painters, postage stamps and, of course, director Peter Jackson. But it also captured the imagination of one of New Zealand’s most acclaimed photographers, Brian Brake. Shortly before leaving New Zealand in 1954, Brake headed south for the National Film Unit to capture images of lake, mountain, tourist and miner. Amid the postcard perfection, Brake films mist-shrouded hills sliced open by mining, and a trio of skiers on Coronet Peak, travelling hand in hand. Tourists swap lake steamers for open top buses, en route to the Routeburn track; and one old-timer sets out on horse to pan for gold, via the abandoned mining village of Macetown.

Watch Wakatipu – The Long Lake here: