Introduction

The images used in this survey have been taken from twelve randomly selected places within New Zealand.

The words below, from an early version of the film, offer one explanation of its purpose. The current film is rather less verbose, while the original proposal goes on at greater length.

Pictorial Research
 presents



  NEW ZEALAND:
A Random Geographical
   Survey



Introduction &
Explanation

In order to avoid the common
errors committed by Geographic
Filmmakers (who, according to
fashion and inclination, will
produce either



lengthly sequences of mountain
& lake beauty, encouraging displays
of progress, harmony, modernity &
we-are-all-new-zealanders togetherness,
"quirky" or "wacky" nullifications
of culture & character,




or



reciprocally edifying counterexamples;
dead dogs, polluted estuaries, desolate
suburbs, waste, destruction, poverty,
hatred, unhappiness & violence)




-in order to avoid these extremes,
it is necessary to remove fallible
& doctrinaire human judgement from
the process of selecting shots.




Which is why a computer was used
to randomly select the 12 locations
shown in this film from the 30 million
one hectare squares that make up the
NZ Map Grid, and



exactly the same quantity (60 seconds)
of footage was recorded at each place.



This gives a statistically accurate
view of New Zealand, as will shortly
be seen.



Further details of method &
theory are obtainable from the
following address:

Random Geographical Survey
PO Box 1009
Wellington.



New Zealand:
A RANDOM GEOGRAPHICAL
SURVEY