The Lumière Reader published film criticism, arts journalism, and digital documentaries between 2003–16.

As a platform for emerging Aotearoa writers and artists, it was one of the country’s first and longest-running arts and culture websites.

Assorted zines, booklets, buttons, cassette tapes, and prints titled 'Lumière' are spread out on a wooden surface.Ephemera from The Lumière Reader archives.

From mid-2026, we are presenting three restoration projects: a redesigned website, remastered essay films and documentaries, and a digital archive of selected writing.

Thanks to the support of the Asian Artists’ Fund, we’ll begin restoring the selected work of writers and artists featured on The Lumière Reader between 2003–16—specifically, an anthology of 100 articles to represent our legacy of arts coverage from the first wave of online publishing in Aotearoa and beyond.

Watch Essay Films & Documentaries

As part of this mahi, we’ll also be remastering our series of original essay films and documentaries, made with funding from NZ On Air in 2015. Until then, you can still watch Out of the Mist, Land of the Long White Stain, and Paper Boat over at NZ On Screen.

The Lumière Reader Restoration Project is supported by the Asian Artists’ Fund, a co-investment partnership between Foundation North, Creative New Zealand, and Auckland Council.