The unit's first documentaries made were a series of six 15-minute programmes called Hidden Places which featured various New Zealand habitats, notably Ōkārito, White Island, Fiordland, Mackenzie Country and Sinclair Wetlands, near Dunedin.

The first programme that captured international attention was the story of Don Merton's rescue of the New Zealand black robin from the brink of extinction.

[4] In mid-July 2020, Blue Ant Media announced that it would be selling NHNZ's Melville Street building in order to avoid having capital tied up in real estate.

[5] In January 2021, television producer Julie Christie purchased a majority stake in NHNZ and became chief executive officer.

[10] In 2012, NHNZ announced it was taking a lead role in the development of cost-effective 2D to 3D conversion technology, in partnership with Korean company ETRI.

In 2000, NHNZ cameraman Mike Single won an Emmy for outstanding cinematography for The Crystal Ocean, which focused on the cycle of water freeze and thaw in Antarctica.

Twisted Tales: The Bat earned NHNZ's second Emmy Award in 1999 for Ian McGee in the category of Outstanding Achievement in a Craft in News and Documentary Programming – Writers.

In 2007 NHNZ established an Emerging Media team to maximise opportunities for either selling or re-versioning the company's footage for broadcast via a variety of platforms, including mobile phone clips and online video.

[18] In 2021 Television producer Dame Julie Christie purchased a majority stake in NHNZ and become chief executive officer.

Runaway notably produced Flutter, a Facebook game that involves breeding butterflies and is associated with the World Wildlife Fund.