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Who We Are

The New Zealand Writers Guild is a professional association of script writers and is a registered trade union.

We represent the interests of writers in the fields of film, television, theatre, radio, comics and new media. The Guild's members include most of the professional script writers working in New Zealand.

We are committed to working in a way that adheres to the spirit and the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi.

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What We Do

The Guild provides a full range of membership services.

History of the Guild

The Guild was founded in 1975. It was initially established to set minimum rates and conditions for writers working in television. It has expanded to encompass all scriptwriting fields.
An article following the history of the Guild from 1975 to 2005

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Where We Are

The Guild is a national organisation but its head office is located in Auckland.

1/243 Ponsonby Rd
Ponsonby
Auckland

A map showing the location of the Guild's office.

Office hours

The Guild office is open for walk-in service Monday, Wednesday and Friday 11am-3pm (not open for walk-ins on Tuesday or Thursday).

A secure lockbox is located next to the front door to the NZWG office.  Members are able to leave library books, registrations and other materials for staff in the lockbox outside of opening hours.

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NZWG Staff

Steven GannawaySteven Gannaway -Executive Director
Steven comes into this role from a union background with strong practical experience in advocacy, mediation, lobbying, and Machiavellian politics. Back-story: Steven was born in England but raised in Te Kuiti, real rural New Zealand. He studied Philosophy and Psychology at University, first time round, and has recently completed a Bachelor of Fine Art. He wrote his first novel behind the counter of a record store and consequently can now only write with loud rock and roll drowning out the real world.

"Seraphim Blues" is currently being developed into a feature film by Chocolate Fish Pictures Ltd.

"I am delighted to be taking on this role at what promises to be an exciting time for the Writers Guild. We have a number of challenges ahead, the goal always being to increase the profile and status of the writer in the industry. I'm looking forward to hearing from you all and to getting out there and stomping around on your behalf."



Dara McNaughtDara McNaught - Membership Manager/Co-editor NZWG Publications (BA, DipSocSt).
Dara has worked at the Guild since 2000, developing the range of services provided to members. She is an award-winning journalist (Peace Media Premier Award) and freelance writer, and co-edits the Guild publications. In a former life she worked in and managed a crisis-based service within the health system, where she did management studies in her spare time.


Marj Noble - Treasurer (Certificate of Management, Registered Tax Practitioner).
Marj is a part time worker for the Guild for the last sixteen months, taking care of our accountancy and reporting needs. She works with the Auditors each year to produce the Audited Accounts, prepares yearly budgets and reports to the Board each meeting on performance against the budget. Marj spends the rest of her time as a Tax Agent preparing Annual Accounts and Tax Returns and GST returns for small businesses and self employed people. She has also for many years provided Administrative Services to a Commercial Photographers Association.

Marj has three adult children, disappears sailing frequently and is an addicted Indoor Netball player.

 

NZWG Board

Allan Baddock - President & Southern Region representative
Allan is a journalist, screen writer and documentary maker with 30 years experience in national and international arenas. He has made a number of high profile, social issues television documentaries for national television and over the past twenty years has been closely involved in developing programmes for the international market, and writing some two dozen natural history and science films for international broadcast. He has published hundreds of newspaper, magazine, radio, and television articles centred particularly on scientific, health, social, and environmental issues.


Mark PrebbleMark Prebble - Vice President.
Mark is a writer and director of feature films, shorts, TV shows and music videos.  He has also worked extensively in the film industry as a crew member.  His first feature film Futile Attraction is distributed internationally by Echelon Studios and locally by Arkles Entertainment.  Much of his work is available online at www.myspace.com/makemarksmovie.

“Between the election, the Bryson Case result, and the rapid changes in our organisation's structure, it is a fascinating time to be a NZWG board member. Employment law and the rights of contractors will be a key issue in the next three years. It is vitally important for us to have a strong writers' union that responds to the needs and realities of our unique screen industry. I hope to work in partnership with Producers, Directors and Technicians to ensure everyone benefits fairly from the growth and evolution of the New Zealand Screen Industry. I look forward to the part I can play in these opportunities and challenges as Vice President of the New Zealand Writers Guild.”


Mark PrebbleAlison Davie
I have a Diploma in Creative Writing and graduated from Unitec School of Performing Arts in 2006 with a Bachelors of Screen and Performing Arts Degree, with a major in Writing. I was the class student representative before being elected to the Student Board as the school Student Representative in my final year. My graduating short film Danny Alexander was selected for the Ivy Film Festival in New York in April of 2006.  

Since graduating, I have worked as a storyliner on Shortland Street and as Medical Advisor (since I have a background in Nursing). I worked on a short film with Kura Productions as Health and Safety Officer. I continue writing my own work, having a specific interest in film and theatre.

Like most writers, I want to see us get the proper recognition we deserve as the originators of story. I would also like to see more support and opportunities for new writers emerging into our industry.  


Mark PrebbleBarry Duffield
Barry is an experienced screenwriter who is establishing a major career in the film industry. He attended film school in 1997–98 and since then he has worked exclusively as a screenwriter and actor. Barry wrote and directed The Meeting, a short film that screened in competition at Expresions En Corto & The World’s Smallest Film Festival, in New Orleans, USA. Barry’s latest short film Hold the Anchovies has just been chosen to premiere at the Vision Fest Film Festival in New York. As Head Writer Barry is an integral part of the ScreenAdventures organisation and the company has optioned several of his screenplays including Dread, a horror feature, shooting in Fiji.

 

Andrew McKenzieAndrew McKenzie
"I view two key elements as being of the utmost importance.

The first is the development of a self sufficiency model for the industry. We have proven ourselves as technicians. We now need to support and nurture writers to create well crafted stories that can relate to a global culture and thereby generate revenue to create a self sustaining industry. In short an industry that operates as a business and stands on its own two feet.

The second part (where the former premise) will formulate in a more dramatic fashion is the development of content and IP for new media forms such as Mobile Video for Phones. While the initial mindset is upon gimmick based content, this infancy will give way to traditional narrative based content. Frameworks, education and support are a necessity here in order for writers to become key stakeholders in the production process.

 

Mark PrebbleBenedict Reid - Central Region Representative

Benedict has been a Writers' Guild member since 2000. He has a background in freelance journalism, pre-press publishing and broadcast television.

Benedict has written for three seasons of the Gibson Group's Facelift and a number of short documentaries. He co-wrote (with Mark Prebble) the digifeature Futile Attraction, and has an MA in Scriptwriting from Victoria University's International Institute of Modern Letters. He currently has a short film in pre-production with Image Icon Entertainment, New England, USA.  

"I think it's important that the New Zealand industry focuses on telling our stories. The Writers' Guild is the organization with the strongest lobby for a genuine New Zealand voice. As the status of the writer continues to improve within the industry, so does the quality of the material produced. This is not a co-incidence."

 

Mike RiddellMike Riddell - Board member
“I’m a full-time screenwriter with a background in writing novels and the odd play, currently working on features. Previously I was coordinator of Screen Dunedin and managed the 48Hour film competition in that fair city. Recently I moved to Cambridge in the Waikato.

“I’m keen for the Guild to continue to represent writers and advance their cause in as many ways as possible. Key issues for me are sustainability and resourcing: fostering partnerships in which writers are recognised and supported as core participants in the industry; and continuing to develop the Guild’s excellent record in resourcing writers to make the most of their opportunities.”

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What the Board does

The Board oversees Guild policy, finances and activities. It is responsible for governing the Guild, ensuring the aims and objectives of the Guild are adhered to and upholding the Constitution. Among other things the Board:

Constitution

The Guild is governed by a constitution which sets out the aims and objectives of the organisation and provides guidelines for how the Guild is to function.

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Affiliations

The Guild is affiliated to three major union organisations, the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions (NZCTU), the International Affiliation of Writers Guilds (IAWG) and Union Network International (UNI).

New Zealand Council of Trade Unions

The Guild is a member of the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions (NZCTU). The NZCTU is an umbrella organisation for unions and provides information, assistance and education. The NZCTU is the united voice of working people in New Zealand.

International Affiliation of Writers Guilds

The Guild is a member of the International Affiliation of Writers Guilds (IAWG). The purpose of the IAWG is to promote and protect the interests of writers internationally, disseminate information among the Guilds and enforce standard minimum agreements.

Each Guild is a stand-alone organisation (i.e. membership and related benefits do not cross over between Guilds) and has different joining criteria and services.

Union Network International (Media and Entertainment International)

The Guild is a member of UNI-MEI. UNI (Union Network International) is a global umbrella organisation for unions and provides an international organising perspective and is a powerful lobbying body. MEI (Media and Entertainment International) is a grouping of media, entertainment and arts unions within UNI.

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