Paul Maunder

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Paul Maunder (born 8 February 1945) is a film director, playwright and "cultural activist" from New Zealand. He is best known for his 1979 film of the Albert Wendt novel Sons For the Return Home, and his 1983 play Hemi, about the life of James K. Baxter.

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[edit] Biography

Maunder was born in Palmerston North and attended Palmerston North Boys High School[1]. He studied at Victoria University of Wellington, the National Institute of Dramatic Art in Sydney and the London Film School[2].

Returning to New Zealand, Maunder worked for the state-owned National Film Unit. In addition to directing a number of the documentaries the unit was best known for, he directed three drama productions which were screened on television: Gone up North for a While, One Of Those People That Live In The World and Landfall (the film debut of Sam Neill).

In 1971, Maunder formed Amamus theatre troupe in Wellington, staging protest plays. [3]

He played one first-class cricket match for Central Districts in the 1961-62 season. [4]

Paul Maunder currently lives in the small town of Blackball on the West Coast.

[edit] Filmography

  • Gone up North for a While (1972) NFU
  • The Seal Hunters (1973) Short film [5]
  • One Of Those People That Live In The World (197?)[6]
  • Landfall (1975)
  • Sons for the Return Home (1979)

[edit] Plays

Most of Maunder's plays are on subjects related to politics, class, activism or the history of the labour movement.

This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.
  • Hemi (1983) - Depot Theatre, Wellington. [2]
  • State of Play (full length - no date or production listed) [2]
  • Ngati Pakeha (1-act, 1983) - Depot Theatre, Wellington[2]
  • '51 (full length, year unknown) - documentary on the 1951 New Zealand waterfront dispute[7]
  • Desire in a New Age (full length, year unknown) [7]
  • Prophets from the Margins (2002) [8]
  • Death (and Love) in Gaza (2006) - BATS Theatre, Wellington. [9]
  • Big End (2007) - no known production yet. [10]

[edit] References

  1. ^ PBHS Website
  2. ^ a b c d 1992 Playmarket Directory Appendix 1
  3. ^ Big Smoke - Auckland University Press
  4. ^ Cricinfo.com
  5. ^ Cinema of Unease
  6. ^ nz immigration new zealand shopping at art-newzealand.com
  7. ^ a b Playmarket: Buy NZ books and NZ plays online - Order a Script
  8. ^ Victoria University
  9. ^ Theatreview
  10. ^ Court Theatre readings