Kiwification

Before New Zealand had 24-hour television, TVNZ used to play a little animation in the evenings, before going offline.

The animation featured a kiwi (”Goodnight Kiwi”), and his cat (”The Cat”) shutting down the TV studio, turning off the lights, putting out the milk bottle, and going to bed in a satellite dish.

The music is a Maori lullaby called “Hine e Hine”. It last aired on October 19, 1994, before TV2 started broadcasting 24-hours.

Goodnight Kiwi

Play this YouTube video anywhere within range of an adult Kiwi, and incredibly, they’ll regress to a state of childhood sleepiness within seconds. A dopey smile will cross their face, they eyes will light up, and they’ll say “Goodnight Kiwi!” in a dreamy voice.

(Do not use while operating heavy machinery. Your mileage may vary.)

Alternate versions of Goodnight Kiwi

• Goodnight Kiwi Updated
  Kiwi and Cat walk out of the TV station and drive away with a babe in the car.
• Goodnight Kiwi (Director’s Cut)
  Kiwi moons the camera, kicks the cat out of the dish, and shoots kiwi icons with a sniper rifle.
• Goodnight Kiwi (Tui TV parody)
  Kiwi is knocked out by a Tui, which turns the equipment back on and watches a collage of SKY’s Tui TV lineup with a beer in one wing.