Landmarks: First Footprints

Its unfortunate that we have a third generation copy of this series (TV > VCR > DVD) which is really showing its age. Its a sad indictment of our culture that we are so reluctant to put our past onto the small screen. 'Landmarks' was produced in the 1970's, a newer version, 'Frontier of Dreams' wasn't produced until 2006. Unfortnately copyright issues mean we may never see this out on DVD. At this rate the next version will appear in time for your grandchildren to study.

'Landmarks' was presented as a "personal view' of our history. It could have been presented by one of our eminent historians of the '70's Keith Sinclair but for some odd reason they chose Kenneth Cumberland one of our more eminent Geographers.... go figure.

Any way we'll suffer through the poor video quality, indifferent sound and dreadful special effects and enjoy the narrative. Cumberland is very much representative of the time, he did after all arrive in New Zealand in 1938. His views on Maori and race relations sometimes verge on the paternal and his ideas are based on some common beliefs of the time. In 'First Footprints' you may notice he accepts the 'accidental voyaging' thesis without providing any real evidence (apart from wind patterns) in support. He also irritatingly constantly uses Maoris as a plural. In his defence, Belich also wrote 'Maoris' in his early books, but corrected this in later writing.

So why are we watching? Well its a nice break from listening to me and it occasionally throws up some interesting points for discussion. It also contains some archival material which can be hard to acquire anywhere else.