Due to open late June 2021.  More information soon.

​He opened a VHS rental store with the aim of having just 500 members. But Stewart ended up with 80,000 members and one of the biggest DVD collections in the world.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/125309136/film-lover-vhs-trailblazer-and-alice-in-videoland-founder-paul-stewart-dies?cid=app-iPad


Sent from my iPad

 Lang Masters bids farewell to the Hollywood Cinemas in Sumner, Christchurch 
https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/they-have-like-films-retiring-christchurch-cinema-legend-seeks-successor-theatre
Feb 2022 update: https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/127876037/buyer-plans-new-beachside-cinema-in-christchurch-as-90yo-owner-finally-sells-up

An interesting, rather pessimistic piece from the Spinoff, about the lovely Roxy:
https://thespinoff.co.nz/business/22-05-2021/well-miss-our-cinemas-when-theyre-gone/
Peter McKenzie was also interviewed by Jesse Mulligan on RNZ Afternoons at www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/afternoons/audio/2018797874/cinemas-struggling-for-survival-around-nz

1. The Majestic in Taihape, which continues to screen a range of interesting new releases.
2. The Civic in Otaki, which is undergoing extensive renovations.  My hope is that screenings will return there, both for the Maoriland Film Festival and a regular programme.

.... but I am keeping an eye on new developments, in Oamaru and other places, and planning another trip to the South Island in July.  In the meantime, I have had several memorable cinema experiences; the centenary celebrations at Everybody's Theatre in Opunake and, more recently,  joining a near-full house in the Civic in Queen Street, for the premiere of Florian Habicht's new film JAMES & ISEY.  A magnificent setting for a magnificent film, which is now in general release.  Do get to see it.
I would love for the Civic to do more film screenings so I was pleased to see that Doc Edge 2021 has scheduled documentary screenings in mid-June. 

Check out "Reel Life'  feature by filmmaker and writer  Tom Augustine, in the thankfully-revived monthly North & South March 2021 issue.  Tom features several of my favourite cinemas, such as  Everybody's in Opunake, King's in Stratford, Majestic in Taihape, but also laments the loss of others. 

 The lovely Everybody's Theatre (est. 1921) in Opunake is celebrating its 100 years of existence with a number of events in February 2021, with the major event being  music and dance (in the 1920's style) on February 20th.
We will be there.  I was told that Everybody's got a shout-out recently on the UK-based Kermode and Mayo's Film Review but I have not yet tracked it down.
​