New Year Honours: Veteran of film thrust into spotlight
A 16mm film projector has taken Peter Goodbehere on a journey of a lifetime - traversing genre, time and place.
But little did he think, nearly 80 years after watching his first film, 1942's Holiday Inn, he would be receiving a Queen's Service Medal for his service to the industry.
Now 83-years-old, the founding member of the New Zealand Federation of Film Societies' (NZFFS) Napier branch and the man behind Napier's Century Cinema, said he was "surprised" when he received the letter informing him of his honour.
"I think most people are surprised when they are given an award like this. They think 'well what have I done?'."
But he says it is the "icing on the cake".
Goodbehere's passion for film began at a very early age when his Kimbolton primary school raised enough money to buy a 16mm projector (a GB L516, later up-graded to a Victor) - one of the first country schools to do so.
During his formative years at Feilding Agricultural High School, he continued to delve deeper into the world of film and cinema. However, his career began when he started work at 2YA in Wellington for the New Zealand Broadcasting Service and was persuaded to join the Wellington film society within a few weeks.
He was soon transferred to Napier to boost staff to operate the first commercial radio station in Hawke's Bay, 2ZC. Three years later, Goodbehere was elected president of the NZFFS, a position he held until it ended in 2002. During this time he was responsible for significant membership growth in the Napier branch.
He has been a member of NZFFS Executive Committee in various roles since 1962 and holds the record as the longest-serving member with more than 50 years of service.
He was the national federation’s projectionist and film handler from the 1960s until digital mediums became the norm. His expert film handling skills and dedication to the restoration of damaged films ensured more New Zealanders had the opportunity to access films that may have otherwise been disposed of or lost.
He established Century Cinema in Napier in 1990, the first art-house cinema in Hawke's Bay, bringing films from outside mainstream release to the province. He was manager and projectionist until his retirement in 2010, overseeing growth from two screenings to more than 25 per week, and leading Century to become the Hawke’s Bay home for the New Zealand International Film Festival.
Outside of film, Goodbehere has been a member of the Napier committee of the Chamber Music Society of New Zealand since the 1980s and the Hawke’s Bay Jazz Club Committee since 2014.
Goodbehere says he has "quite a few highlights". But above all, he is thankful he was able to fulfil his childhood passion. "I've had a good life."
