Copyright Statement - ResearchSpace@Auckland

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As with Broken Barrier, O’Shea had done well to obtain the involvement of the
Governor General and his wife, Lord and Lady Fergusson as it enabled him to
describe the occasion as the “Vice Regal Premiere of Runaway”. In the 1960s, when
royal visits to New Zealand were occasions of great excitement, the Governor General
had a much higher public profile than today. Sir Bernard Fergusson, a monoclewearing
British peer who represented Queen Elizabeth II, was held in high regard by
a nation which still maintained a strong affinity to the mother country. In hindsight, it
is ironic that the British queen’s representative was helping to launch a film which
had nationalistic implications. But in spite of his monocle and his very British
manner, Sir Bernard had a perceptive understanding of New Zealand culture.
Maurice Shadbolt recalled that at the 1963 Katherine Mansfield awards dinner the
Governor General “invited those present at the function – a hundred or more – to look
around and consider how many Maori were present. The answer was none … There
was an uncomfortable shuffling in the audience. Then a long silence. The Queen’s
emissary wasn’t supposed to carry on like this, to say anything pertinent.” 9
O’Shea also invited the Prime Minister Keith Holyoake, but he sent a polite
apology: 10
Thank you so much for the invitation you have so kindly extended to Mrs
Holyoake and me to be present at the World Première of Runaway on
Thursday, 22 October, at the Plaza Theatre, Wellington. Much as we would
like to come, I regret that we cannot have that pleasure as Parliament will be in
session that evening and it is always difficult for me to be away from the
House on a sitting day. I should like a representative of the Government to be
present at your Première and have asked the Deputy Prime Minister, the Hon
J.R. Marshall, if he could do so. Mr Marshall will be pleased to attend, and it
would be appreciated if you would be good enough to get in touch with his
Private Secretary to make the necessary arrangements. May I take this
opportunity of offering you my warm good wishes for the film’s success. 11
The attendance of Sir Bernard and Lady Fergusson and the supportive tone of the
prime ministerial letter demonstrated the level of public interest. At the première,
distinguished guests were placed in the front row of the cinema. As well as the