The Mighty Civic Cinema - Civic Tours History 01. Auckland's historic Civic Theatre is an example of Eberson's 'atmospheric cinema'. Built in 1929, interiors with an Indian theme, and a Persian garden auditorium, with spectacular star ceiling and cloud effects. The Civic is home to the International Film Festival, Opera, Ballet,and variety concerts.

The movies have always been very popular in New Zealand. In 1896 the first commercial film show opened at the Opera House in Auckland, and the kinetoscope and kinematograph were part of touring vaudeville shows.

By the time the Civic was built there were over 600 cinemas in New Zealand, 400 of them screening six nights a week.