Geoff Murphy's being remembered as someone who helped make the foundation of New Zealand's film industry.

The film pioneer has died at the age of 80.

Murphy was the director behind Kiwi classics like Goodbye Pork Pie and Utu.

He also worked as a second unit director on Dante's Peak and for Sir Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings.

Friend and fellow-filmmaker Gaylene Preston says she met Murphy in the early days of film making in 1977.

"He was a travelling, troubadour, filmmaking, anti-establishment, charismatic character, and he took everybody with him."

Preston says Goodbye Pork Pie was groundbreaking for New Zealand cinema and launched Murphy to local and international attention.

"I think it's really hard to understand now what a terrific, amazing cultural earthquake Pork Pie was. New Zealanders went to the movies to see their own culture and see their own work."

Kelly Johnson, who played Gerry Austin in the 1981 movie, told Larry Williams that Murphy created a very safe, learning environment for his actors.

He says that people used to be afraid of hearing the New Zealand accent on screen.

"Because the movie entertained people, it made it okay for us to talk how we talk. It set the tone for years to come."

Johnson says that he didn't think they would be talking about it years later.

LISTEN TO KELLY JOHNSON TALK WITH LARRY WILLIAMS ABOVE