Our People
A team of over 100 people work for NHNZ. Apart from being talented filmmakers, storytellers, technicians, and support teams, many of NHNZ's people are also biologists, zoologists, doctors, and even archaeologists.
Michael Stedman
Managing Director
Michael Stedman has worked in the television industry for over 30 years. In addition to having produced over 1500 hours of television programs he has held senior positions in Australia and New Zealand including Head of Training at the Australian Film and Television School, Head of Features for ABC in Australia, Consultant to the United Nations and Director of Production for TVNZ.
John Crawford
General Manager
John Crawford has worked in general management of media companies for more than 20 years. Prior to joining NHNZ, he spent four years as Southern Regional Manager for Radio NZ Ltd, where he was responsible for 11 commercial radio stations. In his role of General Manager at NHNZ, John oversees the operations of all departments apart from production.
Neil Harraway
EVP Development and Marketing
Neil Harraway is one of NHNZ's founding members. He was initially involved as producer and director on some of NHNZ's iconic wildlife shows such as Under the Ice - the first nature documentary shot in the Antarctic Ocean. Neil now heads the development and marketing of NHNZ's programs, working closely with international broadcasters and co-producers and forging production partnerships.
Tim Mepham
Head of Corporate Services
Tim is responsible for the company's finances, human resources, and training and administration activities. His areas of expertise include finance, information systems development, supply chain management, process control and human resources management. Tim holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Otago and is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of New Zealand.
Craig Meade
VP Program Development
Craig Meade has made over 200 hours of programs in news, comedy, infotainment, reality, science, and natural history. He has also worked as a field producer and director before joining NHNZ as VP Development and Marketing.
Andrew Waterworth
Head of Production
Andrew has thirty years' experience in the television industry. He has produced factual content for the international market for over half his career and has particular expertise in science programming. He joined NHNZ as an Executive Producer in 2000 and has been responsible for delivering high quality, top rating shows to major US and European networks. Recent productions include Megastructures: China, Inside Kung Fu Inc, Colossal Squid, and Shark Nicole.
Judith Curran
Executive Producer
Judith's career in television production was launched in Australia where she produced and directed a wide range of highly acclaimed documentaries. Since joining NHNZ in 2001, Judith has been the driving force behind an equally diverse range of programs. Most recently, Judith has series-produced top rating docu-drama Orangutan Island, two 13 part series credited with raising awareness about the plight of this endangered species with audiences around the world.
John Hyde
Executive Producer
John Hyde has more than 30 years of filmmaking experience, working both in New Zealand and overseas. John has worked variously at NHNZ as an editor, producer, and director for a variety of natural history, adventure, and science programs from the quirky Power Tool Drag Racing series to the multi award winning documentary Mt Cook Footsteps to the Sky.
Sandra Hunt
Head of Production Management
Sandra began her career in the television industry as a production manager with TVNZ. She then worked as a freelancer for 10 years before joining NHNZ where her role includes leading production management to ensure the delivery of NHNZ's programs on time and on budget.
Beth Jones
Post-Production Manager
Beth Jones spent the first 15 years of her career in Los Angeles and New York where she worked as a post-production supervisor for a range of productions including drama, factual and reality series, for networks such as ABC, NBC, CBS, Showtime, Paramount Pictures, Discovery, National Geographic Channels, Oxygen, the History Channel, and MTV.
Caroline Cook
Emerging Media Manager
Caroline is responsible for identifying and developing new markets and products for NHNZ's content, extensive footage library and video products. This includes identifying opportunities in new and emerging media and repurposing existing content for the home video, education and exhibitions markets. Caroline's focus is to grow the company's stock footage business through NHNZ Moving Images online archive.
Wayne Poll
Technical and IT Systems Manager
Wayne Poll's career in television began in 1982 when he started with NHNZ as a technical trainee. Originally trained in broadcast engineering, he became involved with NHNZ's early computer systems in the late 1980s. As well as managing NHNZ's information technology needs, Wayne is still heavily involved with most of NHNZ's broadcast equipment, specializing in video editing and sound systems.
Shera Jenne
Marketing Representative, North America
Shera started out as a freelancer before joining Animal Planet as an associate producer in 1999. In 2004 she joined the team at NHNZ's Dunedin base directing episodes of The Most Extreme. Before re-joining the company as its North American marketing representative in 2006, Shera was involved in new media production for Discovery Communications.