Feature Film
Hunt for the Wilderpeople
2016
Filmed In
Auckland · Central Plateau
Towns & Areas
Waitākere Ranges Regional Park, west Auckland · Tongariro National Park, near Ohakune
The Story
A hilarious and deeply touching adventure film based on Barry Crump's book Wild Pork and Watercress. A defiant city kid and his grumpy foster uncle become the targets of a nationwide manhunt after getting lost in the wild New Zealand bush.
The Stars
Sam Neill and breakout star Julian Dennison. The pairing carries the film's shift between comedy and genuine emotional weight across two very different New Zealand landscapes.
Behind the Lens
Directed by Taika Waititi, cementing his signature comedic style on the global stage. Waititi adapted the novel himself, bringing the same dry, character-driven humour that later defined much of his feature work.
Why NZ?
The film is a love letter to the rugged, breathtaking, and dense New Zealand wilderness. Filming took place across the spectacular, volcanic landscapes of the Central Plateau and the dense, green forests of the Waitākere Ranges. The choice of two very different landscapes in one film speaks to how much geographic range sits within a short drive of Auckland.
On Set
Sam Neill reportedly spent time reassuring a heights-fearful Julian Dennison during a harness stunt on set; after Neill's passing, Dennison paid tribute to him publicly. Dennison himself was cast without an audition. Director Taika Waititi had been developing the adaptation of Barry Crump's novel since as early as 2005.
Legacy
Adapted from Barry Crump's novel Wild Pork and Watercress, the film became one of the highest-grossing New Zealand films of all time at the local box office.
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