Years 10 and 13 pupils have just completed filming Ara Pounamu, a 10-minute documentary which retraces an old greenstone trail between Lake Te Anau and Milford Sound.
College Maori dean Tim Lucas said pupils spent four days filming on the Milford Track and the past month editing the film as part of a study the classes did on greenstone trails.
''Maori used to travel this exact route to harvest takiwai (or tangiwai), which is a rare, translucent type of greenstone from Anita Bay in Milford Sound. Takiwai was used to make koko (ear pendants and other jewellery) that was highly prized and only worn by ariki (paramount chiefs).''
The film will have its ''world premiere'' at 7pm next Tuesday when it is screened at Kavanagh College.
Mr Lucas said people who would love to see some of the beauty and grandeur of the track without having to walk it were welcome to attend.
''People will love the incredible scenery and will learn many Maori names for the mountains, rivers and other features that we encounter along the way.
''The film aims to encourage Kiwis to get outdoors and walk some of our world class greenstone trails - many are now popular walking tracks like the Milford Track, the Routeburn, the Heaphy - and see how our original trampers did it minus the technical gear that we have these days.''
