Goodnight Kiwi

Last updated

The Goodnight Kiwi is an animated short which has been used to signal the end of nightly broadcasts on Television New Zealand channels. The Goodnight Kiwi features two characters: the eponymous Goodnight Kiwi (later also called TV Kiwi), and his companion, simply known as The Cat. The animation was introduced in 1975 on TV2, and used on South Pacific Television between 1976 and 1980. Between 1980 and 19 October 1994, the animation was screened again on TV2. This animation returned on 6 September 2007 for use on TVNZ 6 when the channel ended transmission at midnight. TVNZ U also used the Goodnight Kiwi at midnight before overnight service.

Contents

The short was animated by Sam Harvey (1923–2014), [1] with music arrangement by Bernie Allen and sound by Gary Potts. [2]

Plot and overview

Three different clips have been used through time:

The first version of the clip was used when TV2 first signed off in 1975. In this version, the Kiwi was a director. The cartoon began with the Kiwi yawning in the director's chair. Kiwi wakes up the cat, while a few of broadcasting equipment move away. The Kiwi then goes to the back of the studio, cuts the power and turns on the outside lights. Then the Kiwi put the empty bottle and the cat outside, but without it knowing the cat goes outside again while Kiwi is waving to the audience. Following this, the Kiwi exits the studio, pulling down a shade revealing "GOODNIGHT FROM TV2". This version was thought to only exist in the form of small clips until TVNZ released it online for public viewing on 15 September 2016. [3]

The second version of the Goodnight Kiwi clip was used by South Pacific Television somewhere between 1976 and 1980 and saw the Goodnight Kiwi living in a television camera (his cat had disappeared). After dusting his camera, throwing a blanket on top of it, winking at the audience, and turning out the lights, the kiwi would close the side flaps on the camera and then the South Pacific Television logo (reading "GOOD NIGHT FROM SOUTH PACIFIC TELEVISION") would appear as the music faded out. This version was also thought to only exist in the form of small clips until TVNZ released this version to their YouTube channel on 4 November 2019.[ citation needed ] During transmission breakdowns, a still picture of the Goodnight Kiwi was often used, in poses including one of sweeping the floor and accidentally smashing one of the television monitors with a broom, or accidentally cutting a wire. [ citation needed ]

The third iteration appeared in 1980 and aired on both channels until 1989. The one-minute-long animation begins with Goodnight Kiwi and the Cat in the master control room. Kiwi shuts down the screens and starts an audio cassette playing an instrumental arrangement of the lullaby " Hine E Hine " by Fanny Howie, this is accompanied by a continuity announcer bidding goodnight to viewers, Kiwi walks through the studio while Cat jumps and pulls faces into a camera. Kiwi turns out the lights, puts an empty bottle on the porch and locks the door, while the cat heads upstairs to the studio roof. The Kiwi follows and rides an elevator (presumably just after it had been used by the cat) to the top of a transmission mast. At the top, Kiwi covers himself in blankets (in which the cat was already curled up) and goes to sleep in a satellite dish with the Cat sitting on his stomach. The animation closes with the words: "Goodnight from TELEVISION NEW ZEALAND".[ citation needed ] (until There was a slight variation of the ending – from 1989 onwards, the Goodnight Kiwi was only seen on Channel 2 (TV1 adopted its closedown sequence, featuring the National Anthem) and ended with a voiceover stating "it's goodnight from Channel 2" and displaying the Channel 2 logo. On 19 October 1994, the last Goodnight Kiwi was broadcast on TV2. [4] On the next day, TVNZ started to broadcast for 24 hours on both TV1 and TV2, so there was no need to use the Goodnight Kiwi cartoon anymore. The Goodnight Kiwi clip was used from 1980 to 1994 in its "first era". Later TVNZ revived The Goodnight Kiwi cartoon in 2007 and used to end programming on TVNZ 6 because the channel did not broadcast for 24 hours. The only difference between the original and the TVNZ 6 version was that the cartoon was displayed in 16:9, instead of 4:3, with some parts being cropped. There was also a lower third, which was displayed at the end of the cartoon. Lower third displayed: "Goodnight from TVNZ 6".[ citation needed ]

This same cartoon was also used for TVNZ 7, which displayed this same version as TVNZ 6, but with a lower third saying: "Goodnight from TVNZ 7". There was also a small alteration later on its final day, saying: "Goodbye from TVNZ 7".The Goodnight Kiwi was the last video ever played on this channel, as TVNZ 7 pulled the plug on June 30, 2012. [ citation needed ][ check quotation syntax ] The animation, characters and music are regarded as part of New Zealand culture and icons of kiwiana. [5]

Return of the Kiwi

Eric Kearley, head of the TVNZ Digital Channel Launch team at the time, stated in a message board response that the Goodnight Kiwi would return to TV on Freeview on TVNZ 6 which began broadcasting on 6 September 2007 – a move which proved popular with New Zealand television viewers. [6] New Christmas animations featuring the Kiwi and Cat characters were introduced by TV One on 1 December 2008.[ citation needed ]

It was also the final clip played on TVNZ 7, with the message "Goodbye from TVNZ 7", before the station was shut down at midnight on 30 June 2012, and converted to TV One Plus 1 (now TVNZ 1 +1), a 1-hour delayed broadcast of TV One (now TVNZ 1).[ citation needed ]

In 2019, the Kiwi returned once more as a TV series. The Goodnight Kiwi Stories featured prominent New Zealanders – including PM Jacinda Ardern – reading children's books in English and/or te reo Māori to help kids get to sleep. The show is only available on TVNZ+ (formerly TVNZ OnDemand). [7]

There is a Matariki television special, Kiwi and Cat: Mānawātia a Matariki, where Kiwi and Cat learn about the stars of Matariki. The special features guest cameos. [8]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Television in New Zealand</span>

Television in New Zealand was introduced in 1960 as a state-run service. The broadcasting sector was deregulated in 1989, when the Government allowed competition to the state-owned Television New Zealand (TVNZ). There are currently three forms of broadcast television: a terrestrial (DVB-T) service provided by Freeview; as well as satellite (DVB-S) and internet streaming (IPTV) services provided nationwide by both Freeview and Sky.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">TVNZ</span> New Zealand state-owned television network

Television New Zealand, more commonly referred to as TVNZ, is a television network that is broadcast throughout New Zealand and parts of the Pacific region. All of its currently-operating channels are free-to-air and commercially funded.

<i>Shortland Street</i> New Zealand television soap opera

Shortland Street is a New Zealand prime-time soap opera centring on the fictitious Shortland Street Hospital. The show was first broadcast on TVNZ 2 on 25 May 1992 and is New Zealand's longest-running drama and soap opera, being broadcast continuously for over 7,900 episodes and 32 years. It is one of the most watched television programmes in New Zealand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sky (New Zealand)</span> Pay television company in New Zealand

Sky Network Television Limited, more commonly known as Sky, is a New Zealand broadcasting company that provides pay television services via satellite, media streaming services, and broadband internet services. As of 31 December 2022, Sky had 1,023,378 residential television subscribers consisting of 517,003 satellite subscribers and 506,375 streaming subscribers. Additionally, Sky had 23,156 broadband customers. Despite the similarity of name, branding and services, such as Sky Go and MySky shared with its European equivalent, Sky Group, there is no connection between the companies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South Pacific Television</span> Former television channel in New Zealand

South Pacific Television (SPTV) was a television channel in New Zealand, which operated between 1976 and 1980.

The New Zealand Broadcasting Corporation (NZBC) was a publicly owned company of the New Zealand Government founded in 1962. The Broadcasting Act 1976 then reformed NZBC as the Broadcasting Corporation of New Zealand (BCNZ). The corporation was dissolved on 1 April 1975, and replaced by three separate organisations: Radio New Zealand, Television One, and Television Two, later known as South Pacific Television. The television channels would merge again in 1980 to become Television New Zealand, while Radio New Zealand remained unchanged.

<i>Radio with Pictures</i> 1976 New Zealand TV series or program

Radio with Pictures was an early music video programme, airing on New Zealand broadcaster TV2 from 1976 to 1989. "RadPix" aired as a weekly, late night series featuring adult and alternative music.

Legislature broadcasters in New Zealand are broadcasters of the New Zealand Parliament House of Representatives. Television channel Parliament TV and radio network AM Network are funded by the New Zealand House of Representatives to broadcast full and unedited coverage of its proceedings. The Office of the Clerk also funds a fully independent written, audio and video political reporting service of Parliamentary proceedings called Parliament Today.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">TVNZ 1</span> New Zealand television channel

TVNZ 1 is the first national television channel owned and operated by the state-owned broadcaster Television New Zealand (TVNZ). It is the oldest television broadcaster in New Zealand, starting out from 1960 as independent channels in the four main centres of Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin, networking in 1969 to become NZBC TV. The network was renamed Television One in 1975 upon the break-up of the New Zealand Broadcasting Corporation, and became a part of TVNZ in 1980 when Television One and South Pacific Television merged. The channel assumed its current name in October 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">TVNZ 2</span> New Zealand television channel

TVNZ 2 is the second New Zealand television channel owned and operated by the state-owned broadcaster Television New Zealand (TVNZ). It targets a younger audience than its sister channel, TVNZ 1. TVNZ 2's line up consists of dramas, comedies, and reality TV shows. A small number are produced in New Zealand which are either of a comedic, soap opera or reality nature, with rest of the line-up taken from international catalogues.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">TVNZ 7</span> New Zealand television channel

TVNZ 7 was a commercial-free New Zealand 24-hour news and information channel on Freeview digital television platform and on Sky Television from 1 July 2009. It was produced by Television New Zealand, which received Government funding to launch two additional channels. The channel went to air just after 10 am on 25 March 2008 with a looped preview reel. The channel was officially launched at noon on 30 March 2008 with a special "kingmaker" political debate held within the Parliament building and featuring most of the elected minor party leaders. The channel went off air at midnight on 30 June 2012 to the Goodnight Kiwi.

TVNZ+, formerly known as TVNZ OnDemand, is an over-the-top New Zealand television and video on demand streaming service offered by TVNZ. It offers a variety of free content, such as news updates and programmes seen on TVNZ channels. TVNZ+ offers most of the programmes broadcast on air with licensing agreements to be shown for users in New Zealand. In addition, it offers dozens of local and international titles exclusively available on the platform.

Thingee is a puppet which was used as an unofficial ambassador and icon for New Zealand children's television during the 1990s, appearing in multiple television shows such as The Son of a Gunn Show, and also children's programme, What Now. He appeared on T-shirts, dolls, puzzles and advertising all over New Zealand. He was voiced by After School camera operator and director Alan Henderson, who died on 15 February 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">TVNZ 6</span> New Zealand television channel

TVNZ 6 was a digital-only, commercial-free television channel operated by Television New Zealand. It launched in September 2007, and was available in 60.3% of New Zealand homes on the Freeview and SKY Television Digital platforms. TVNZ 6 was on air daily from 6am to midnight.

"Hine E Hine" is a lullaby in Māori written by Fanny Howie in around 1907.

Wheel of Fortune is a New Zealand television game show that was last hosted by television personality Jason Gunn and co-host Sonia Gray. It was broadcast on TV2 from 1991 to 1996 and on TV ONE from 2008 to 2009.

New Zealand's Funniest Home Videos was a New Zealand reality television program on TVNZ channel TV2, in which viewers were able to send in humorous homemade videotapes. The show officially began in 1990 and ended in 1993. The show's successor was called The Great Kiwi Video Show, which began in 1995 and ended in 1999.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">U (TV channel)</span> Defunct New Zealand TV channel

U was an interactive youth-oriented New Zealand television channel, owned and operated by TVNZ. The channel launched on 13 March 2011, and featured reality programming, as well as an interactive live show and music content. It replaced the now defunct TVNZ 6. Leading up to the launch of U, there were 13 days' worth of promotional videos and programming information aired to advertise the new channel.

This is a list of New Zealand television events and premieres that occurred in 2014, the 55th year of continuous operation of television in New Zealand.

Goodnight Kiwi is a New Zealand TV show where well-known New Zealanders are presented reading children's books. It is intended to be watched before bed, and is based on the TV sign-off animation, Goodnight Kiwi. Each episode is around three minutes long and available on TVNZ+. It includes animations, original illustrations and live performances. The episodes begin with a variation of the original Goodnight Kiwi animation, where the kiwi and cat jump into the satellite dish.

References

  1. ↑ "Goodnight Kiwi creator dies". Stuff. 27 May 2014. Retrieved 14 April 2019.
  2. ↑ "Goodnight Kiwi". NZ On Screen . Retrieved 7 December 2013.
  3. ↑ "Goodnight Kiwi (1975)". TVNZ Footage Licensing . Retrieved 15 September 2016.
  4. ↑ The Goodnight Kiwi - Holmes 18th October 1994, 30 November 2008, retrieved 14 August 2023
  5. 1 2 "A to Z of New Zealand in stamps". One News. 5 August 2008. Retrieved 7 December 2013.
  6. ↑ TV fans applaud Goodnight Kiwi's return (+video) at Stuff.co.nz
  7. ↑ "Review: Kids' TV show Goodnight Kiwi is short but very, very sweet". 15 November 2019.
  8. ↑ "The best TV specials to watch this Matariki". 12 July 2023. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
  9. ↑ "Goodnight Kiwi (1976–94, 2007–)". Kiwi TV. Retrieved 8 December 2013.
  10. ↑ Williamson, Lyn (1984). TV Kiwi and the Cat. Madeline Beasley (illustrator). Auckland: TVNZ Enterprises. ISBN   0908690053.
  11. ↑ "A to Z of New Zealand". New Zealand Post . Retrieved 7 December 2013.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.