God Defend New Zealand

A “Bat country” FILM
WRITTEN BY Edward Turnbull

New Zealand is attacked suddenly and violently. Amid the chaos of war it does not take long for the merge army to fall. International help is miles away behind the closed doors if politics. Meanwhile the little people wait. Three groups must come to terms with their situation in the weeks after the shock occupation by an unknown force.

David Evans, a hardworking divorcee parent, whose new girlfriend moved in only weeks before the occupation, must keep his families morale high as he tries to stretch his food supplies to their limit. It does not help that his neighbors are becoming increasingly xenophobic as the street battles move closer to their mostly abandoned apartment complex. David soon finds himself joining a guerrilla unit in a misguided attempt at patriotism. As he Trains with his unit he tries to convince himself he is ready for the horrors of war. He will soon find out.

Dane Cochran is a young army recruit, sent to the barracks as a last resort by his family. He finds himself in the hills of Northland as he is mentored by a senior officer in an attempt to straighten him out and help him realize his potential. The two witness the shocking events from afar and begin being overcome by feelings of isolation and hopelessness as they are too far away to be called to arms. However as they journey closer to the conflict zones they witness bizarre and frightening reactions citizens can have in times of desperation and uncertainty. In these times the two still have to find the courage to fight, even if it is un-winnable.

Alexander Banks and Clayton Richwhite are two backbencher politicians who have skived off from the debating chamber in an opportunity to hang out at a colleagues beach retreat. When the beehive in the capital is the first target to fall, they find themselves the only surviving members of the governing national party. Wracked with intense feelings of guilt and equal parts relief, the two must put aside their own selfish personalities as they realize they may have a role to play in facilitating international intervention. As the two cluelessly try to contact anyone who can help, their own pathetic and petty political motivations come to the fore as they begin to convince themselves their new found positions have much more power.

Three days, three stories. As each level of New Zealand's society struggles with their own battles they must face up to the ultimate one, as they try to ensure New Zealand stays a free and safe country. How ever unbeknownst to them, even their smallest actions may have severe consequences for the other groups to survive.