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Kōrero: Introduced land birds

Movietone news kookaburra

Those New Zealanders who never heard a kookaburra in the wild became very familiar with its laughing call because it introduced the Australian Movietone newsreels. These news packages were common as shorts in New Zealand cinemas, especially in the 1940s and 1950s. They were produced by Fox International Movietone News in Australia from 1929 to 1975.

Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi

Cinesound Movietone Productions

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Ngā whakaahua me ngā rauemi katoa o tēnei kōrero

Me pēnei te tohu i te whārang

Christina Troup, Introduced land birds – Kookaburras, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/mi/video/26150/movietone-news-kookaburra (accessed 4 June 2026).

He kōrero nā Christina Troup, i tāngia i te 19 September 2013.

Comments

Mr. D. P. O'Brien
12 June 2015
My father who's 95 and still alive and living alone was a renowned mimic and did the Kookaburra laugh for Cinesound @ Movietone news reels anybody who has any info. re. this could you please contact me .at [email protected] Thanx.
[email protected].
12 June 2015
Hi my father who's 95 and still alive living on his own entertained the troops on the Kakoda trail during the 2nd. world war he was with a group called the Tasmaniacs this group was awarded a special commendation by the Commander @ chief vice admiral Sir Thomas Blamey for service to the war effort. I'd appreciate any help anybody could give to compile the history of this time. He ( Mr. Paul O'Brien ) is a war veteran he served in active service for 4 and a half years. He did not go there as a token jesture as a civilian. Any help from anybody would be greatly appreciated. Thank you Mr. D. P.O'Brien.