The "fire" used in a few brief shots of the miniature dragon Zoot blasting Sam is a non-flammable powder called Lycopodium. Ironically, its nickname is "dragon's breath". Placed under air pressure (a foot pump) and passed across a flame, it "ignites".
Judy Bailey, the newsreader, was at the time the actual TVNZ One newsreader.
The eyes came from a taxidermist in Christchurch.