An older woman with grey hair is holding a ceramic bowl up and looking at it intently as she sits at a dining table. In front of her are plates, mugs and bowls as well as a bowl of green apples.

Text reads, "Crown Lynn: A Māori Story" above is a white line illustration of a tiki, with two stars on either side.

53m

A riveting slice of New Zealand history, telling the iconic story of Crown Lynn pottery and the generations of Māori families that worked there.

Made with the support of NZ On Air

Series details.

Credits

Jade Maipi & Peter Tainui
Executive Producers
Suze Hannagan
Head of Production
Susan Leonard
Director & Producer

Crown Lynn: A Māori Story is a riveting slice of New Zealand history, telling the iconic story of Crown Lynn pottery and the generations of Maori families that worked there.

For almost 50 years, Crown Lynn was the biggest ceramics factory in the southern hemisphere. Situated in West Auckland, it was a melting pot of rich culture in a post-war era when hundreds of Māori migrated to the city to find work.

Crown Lynn: A Māori Story reveals the incredible stories behind this locally made pottery and its charismatic founder, Sir Tom Clark.

Produced by

Mahitahi partner logo for use on dark background

Produced for

Whakaata Māori partner logo for use on dark background

Made with the support of

Partner Logo for NZ on Air for use on dark background

Get in touch

More like this

  • Documentary

    After Indira Gandhi's assassination, the 1984 Sikh Massacre unfolded, with thousands of Sikhs violently killed over three days. Many sought asylum. 1984 follows their journey to find home in Aotearoa after enormous tragedy.
    1984/Film
    1h 4m

  • Documentary

    I Am a Dark River is a playful and experimental documentary focused on the story of New Zealand modernist printer and publisher Bob Lowry, through the eyes of his granddaughter Tess.
    I Am a Dark River/Film
    1h 10m

  • NZ Wars: Stories of Waitara

    The Taranaki pā site of Pukerangiora holds a significant place in New Zealand’s military history as a lasting symbol of Māori resistance and resilience.
    NZ Wars: Stories of Waitara/Film
    44m

  • Whitiki

    A video documentary that tells the stories of three Māori Pioneers who went to battle in WWI, through the eyes of their descendants.
    Whitiki/Film
    52m

  • NZ Wars: Stories of Tainui

    NZ Wars: Stories of Tainui is the third compelling chapter in RNZ’s award-winning documentary project on the New Zealand Wars.
    NZ Wars: Stories of Tainui/Film
    48m

  • Dealing with Loss

    This episode looks at the devastating effect introduced mammals have had on New Zealand’s unique wildlife.
    Fight for the Wild/Episode 1
    45m

  • Aotearoa - Waking Up to the Dawn Raids

    The Dawn Raids story is overdue to be told. Long whispered about in secret family conversations, people have heard the words "dawn raids" but not what really happened.
    Untold Pacific History/Season 1/Episode 1
    14m

  • Episode 1

    We investigate the occupation at Ihumātao from the perspective of the leaders of the campaign to #ProtectIhumātao.
    Ake Ake Ake/Episode 1
    55m

  • Kororā: Little Blue Penguin

    In 2020, a Banks Peninsula family works to protect and survey the Indigenous population of white-flippered penguins, through predator trapping and citizen science.
    Kororā: Little Blue Penguin/Film
    30m

  • Meng

    Meng is a one hour bilingual documentary that follows former Gisborne mayor and current Race Relations Commissioner Meng Foon.
    Meng/Film
    52m

  • NZ Wars: Stories of Wairau

    The fourth epic chapter in the award-winning NZ Wars series. Presented by Mihingarangi Forbes.
    NZ Wars: Stories of Wairau/Film
    56m

  • The Chief

    In episode one, we first meet the prominent Māori chief Te Whakatōhea Chief Mokomoko who dedicates his life to protecting the land and people of Bay of Plenty's Te Whakatōhea Iwi.
    Stolen Lands: Betrayal of a Chief/Episode 1
    29m

  • Flower Pot Boombox

    Fat Freddy’s Drop depart Auckland, bound for London, 2003. Taking up residence for six weeks in Tooting, South London, the band sets up a studio in the lounge, and get straight into rehearsals and making beats.
    MARAUDERS/Season 1/Episode 1
    9m

  • Part 1 (2024)

    Ruamata captures the journey of Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Ruamata's rise to the top of hockey in Aotearoa as they become the first Māori immersion school in a century to compete in the prestigious Rankin Cup.
    Ruamata: It's More Than Hockey/Film
    1h 0m

  • Katchafire: Legacy

    The story of the Māori band Katchafire, as they struggle to find their way through volatile creative differences and a changing music landscape.
    Katchafire: Legacy/Film
    53m

  • All Blacks at War

    Former All Black Andrew Mehrtens MNZM shares the story of the 13 All Blacks killed in WWI.
    All Blacks at War/Film
    44m

  • NZ Wars: Stories of Tauranga Moana

    The fifth chapter of this series, NZ Wars: Stories of Tauranga Moana recounts the events that unfolded in the Bay of Plenty and their far-reaching consequences for future generations.
    NZ Wars: Stories of Tauranga Moana/Film
    48m

  • Hīkoi – Speaking Our Truth

    It was the social movement that changed the country's political landscape. 20 years on, Tāmati Rimene-Sproat retraces the 2004 Foreshore and Seabed march, all the way back to the steps of Parliament.
    Hīkoi – Speaking Our Truth/Film
    59m

  • Ground Work

    In the first of a three-part series, bands from Christchurch, Wellington, and Auckland travel to Scotland to compete in the World Pipe Band Championships.
    12,000 Miles/Episode 1
    36m

  • Trailer

    From visionary director Katie Wolfe comes an unflinching documentary of a forgotten history retold from every side.
    The Haka Party Incident/
    2m

Video section home

An adult person is holding a young child in their arms and hugging them. Text reads, "Blind Bitter Happiness".
Dark purple background with text, "Art Stories in Aotearoa".
The silhouette of a man against a sun either rising or setting, the sky is mostly green with a thin bank of orange light along the horizon. Text reads, "Meng".
A Little Blue Penguin sits in a rocky landscape. Text reads "Kororā, little blue penguin".
A sand dune with the ocean behind it in a cove, everything shadowy and violet in the twilight. The text reads "Whitiki! Whītī! Whītī! E!"
The back of a woman walking down a path, she's wearing white pants and a silver shiny top with silver tassels coming off the back and arms. Her arms are outstretched. Text reads, "Inside Splore".
Dark grey background with yellow text reading, "The Barber Shope". There is a illustration in the same yellow of a Māori design.
Three figures from different original images have been edited so that they're all standing next to each other and are of varying sizes. All three people are in the midst of performing. The background in a flat bright red colour. Text in the style of graffiti reads, "The Collective". A spray painted illustration of a crown appears above the 'e' in 'Collective'.
A graphic of four birds hanging over an adult man's head. In the middle, the text reads: "Bird's Eye View."
A birds'-eye view of some military items sitting scattered on a desk, including a map, a hat, playing cards, and a couple of coins. The text in the middle reads "Back to Timor."
A podcast cover for "The Aotearoa History Show" features the title written in colorful, chalk-like letters on a blackboard background. The words "THE" and "AOTEAROA" are in light blue, "HISTORY" is in pink, and "SHOW" is in green with green chalk lines radiating outwards.
A sepia toned image of a family photograph depicting a woman holding the hands of two young children. The photo is deteriorating and the child on the left is almost obscured by the damage. The text reads, "Farewell Guangdong" there are also four Chinese characters, or 'Hanzi', above the text.
A transparent figure of the back of a man, overlayed with another transparent image of the same figure but just his shoulders and back of his head. Text reads, "Duality". it's written in transparent white block letters and yellow cursive overlapped.
Woman looking into the camera, standing side on. She has a staunch expression and Is wearing a bright pink blouse. Text reads, "Breaking Silence". Text and woman stand against a dark, almost black background.
A close up of a video game controller, the lighting makes it look slightly pink and blue. Text reads, "Game Change".
A man standing in front of a mural of the Tino Rangatiratanga flag (Māori flag). Text reads, "Hori on a Hīkoi".
A man looking into the camera with his mouth slightly open. His left eye is bugged out in a comically over the top way. Text reads, "A Place Called Te Awamutu".
Person on purple background resting their head in their hand. Only their head and chest is visible. Purple text along bottom of image reads, "AMPLIFIED".
One young woman sits on another who is in a wheelchair in a zany candid moment. Text reads "This is Wheel Life with Soph and Indy"
Side profile of a persons face, silhouetted against a setting sun out of frame. Text reads, "Imposter".
A woman sitting on a chair next to a desk and coffee table. She's smiling at the camera. Text reads, "Aotearoa's Most Bizarre Conspiracies".
Illustration of two women looking defiantly at the viewer. The background is yellow with illustrated yellow simple flowers. The text reads, "Conversations with my Immigrant Parents".
A multi-media illustration of four different figures in different art styles. Text reads, "Our Aotearoa".
Photo of Anika Moa in black with hands on hips, looking straight ahead to camera, on a light grey background. The podcast title ‘It’s Personal with Anika Moa’ is written above her head.