THE HISTORY OF COMMODORE COMPUTERS IN NEW ZEALAND

In the 1980's and early 90's Commodore Computers NZ Ltd was the biggest home computer supplier in New Zealand by volume and on a population adjusted basis they sold more Commodore Computers than the USA controlled Commodore Computers Australia.

This documentary's focus is on the people, the New Zealand innovators that did incredible things with Commodore Computers and helped shape our education, business and farming industries in NZ.

IN THE DOCUMENTARY

• 1,000's of NZ farms used the Commodore VIC-20 (globally known as a games machine) to run their farms in the 1980's;
• a New Zealand entrepreneur creates a Commodore 64 (another 'so called' games machine) package to run Pharmacy Prescriptions, this is used in 3,000 Pharmacies across NZ and Australia,
• Te Kōhanga Reo purchases 900 Commodore Amiga computers to use in educating young Maori computer skills,
• A local businessman creates a photoshop program before Photoshop was a thing, on the Commodore 64, and distributes it globally,
• 400+ NZ schools purchase Commodore Computers and 1000's of NZ school children first contact with computers is on a Commodore... and so much more.

WE ARE A NATION OF INNOVATORS AND I WILL BE INTERVIEWING THE AMAZING INDIVIDUALS WHO HELPED SHAPED OUR NATIONS COMPUTING INDUSTRY, FARMING, EDUCATION AND BUSINESS.

THE DOCUMENTARY WILL INCLUDE

• Video Interviews with directors, staff, dealers and innovators (some of the achievements were unique globally).
• Archive Footage of Commodore Computers in New Zealand in the 1980's and early 90's
• Archive Photos
• The achievements in NZ business
• Influence and Achievements in NZ Schools & education
• Showcase of the Commodore Computer models sold in New Zealand
• NZ Facts and Statistics on Commodore in the 80's and 90's
• What happened to Commodore Computers New Zealand Ltd and what's happening with Commodore Computers today in New Zealand?

THE FUNDS

The funds will be used to travel to each person's home across New Zealand to record these interviews, to pay for archive footage, research, school campaign, video production and promotion.

STRETCH GOAL

The next step in this project is to open the new Commodore Computer Museum here in New Plymouth. I have been putting together an extensive collection for the museum already, but the collection is still not complete. Funds raised over the 'minimum' required amount (after completing the documentary and releasing it to the public) will be used towards the museum project. 

SUMMARY

I have spent the past year researching this documentary and all details are deeply researched and verified. Most Kiwi's don't realise we owe so much of the technology we take for granted today, and to the innovators right here at home, this is our chance to share this amazing story not only with New Zealand but also the world. 

This is a story never told before and now is the time to preserve this important part of New Zealand's history.