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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 enjoying 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 1999, 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.

"Writers, as part of the creative sector, are among the most poorly paid professionals in the country. Yet writers are the original creators of the stories we see on our screens and in theatres. The Guild's services and activities are designed to strengthen the rights and profile of writers within New Zealand."

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 BaddockAllan 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. Email baddock@earthlight.co.nz

Mark PrebbleBenedict Reid - Vice President & 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 four 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 coincidence." Email benedict@winterfilms.co.nz

Peter CoxPeter Cox
Peter Cox has worked on a number of television and theatre projects over the last ten years. After writing for theatre in Wellington, and winning the Chapman Tripp Award for Best New Playwright in 2002, he went on to create and write for the television show The Insider’s Guide to Happiness, which was produced by Gibson Group in 2003. The series went on to win numerous awards at the Air NZ television awards including best series.

Peter has since been the 2006 recipient of the Sargeson Trust Writer’s Residency, and was the head writer for the critically acclaimed TV3 comedy series The Pretender. He has just finished writing the second series of The Pretender, to be screened by TVNZ in 2008. He is currently working on a number of theatre, television and film projects at various stages of development. Email petercox1@gmail.com

. 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.  Email alidav@xtra.co.nz

Mark PrebbleBarry Duffield - Northern Region Representative
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. Email dreamchaser@xtra.co.nz

Roseanne Liang
Roseanne Liang has a Masters in Screen Writing and Directing from the University of Auckland. She has written and directed three dramatic short films which have taken her to the prestigious London and Sydney Film Festivals. Her latest short film Take 3 won a Special Mention award at the Berlin Film Festival. Her first feature-length documentary, Banana in a Nutshell, was one of the most notable local successes of the New Zealand International Film Festival, and won a number of awards including Best Documentary at the New Zealand International Documentary Festival.

Roseanne has also been awarded Best Director of Documentary at the Asian Festival of 1st Films and SPADA New Filmmaker of the Year. Currently, Roseanne has been part of a writing/directing team for a television comedy sketch show (yet to air), and is developing her documentary into a dramatic feature film. Roseanne's work forms an eclectic mix of love stories, drama, noir and kung fu action- all spiced with a healthy sprinkling of absurdist humour.

As a relatively new writer in New Zealand, I'm particularly interested in a sense of community and support. It isn't easy doing what we do, but if we didn't, this country would be poorer for it - on so many levels. Story is King, as they say (I say, Story is Queen) - and it's up to us to nurture the right conditions for their creation. Contact Roseanne through the NZWG office info@nzwg.org.nz.

D F Mamea - Co-editor The Write Stuff
D F Mamea worked for The Man for more than a decade before he threw it all in and became a screenwriter. He has written scripts for short films, television and features. Although he has also done some directing and producing, he is happiest when faced with the choice between a blank page and doing housework.  He blogs all about it at Indelible Freckles - http://if.dfmamea.com.  Email david@dfmamea.com

Sean MolloySean Molloy
Sean co-wrote the New Zealand feature film Hopeless, and was a co-creator and head writer of the spin-off series Love Bites.  He has also written for Facelift.  He is currently developing three feature film scripts.

"For me the Writer's Guild is a means to build the writing community as well as our individual careers.  I'm excited to be part of that community as a member and now as a Board member.

"My main goal as a Board member is to encourage strategies that will build the membership of the Guild.  I also want to help communicate what the Board is working on to members." Sean is based in Wellington.  Email sean.molloy@paradise.net.nz. His screenwriting blog can be found at  http://seanmolloy.blogspot.com/

Mike RiddellMike Riddell
Mike is a full-time screenwriter with a background in writing novels and plays. He is screenwriter for the NZ/UK copro based on his own novel, The Insatiable Moon, and engaged as writer on a number of other international features. Mike was the playwright of the hit play Jerusalem, Jerusalem (about James K. Baxter) which toured NZ and was short-listed for a First at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2003. He was the producer of the short film Cake Tin which won the 2007 Sandcastle Award for Best Short Film at Moondance Festival in Hollywood. Mike has been on the NZWG board since 2005. He holds a PhD from Otago University. Website www.holybucket.com

“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 opprtunities.” Email mike@fylm.co.nz

Dianne Taylor
Dianne has made a living as a full-time writer since she was eighteen. After a career in advertising, Dianne studied at the University of Auckland, graduating with a degree in Film and English.  Dianne’s screenwriting projects have included feature films, shorts, and award-winning educational dramas on diabetes prevention and methamphetamine abuse.  Most recently, Dianne co-wrote the feature film Apron Strings which premiered on the opening night of The New Zealand International Film Festival in Auckland in July 2008. She is currently working on two new feature film projects. Email ditay@xtra.co.nz

Athina Tsoulis
Athina, a Greek Australian, has forged her writing/directing career in New  Zealand, where she has been living for the past twenty-six years.

She has written and directed many short films, which have screened internationally at numerous film festivals such as Clairmont Ferrand and on television (Arte, Channel 4, Canal Plus).  Her first feature, I’ll Make You Happy, had a national theatrical release, and a US DVD release.  Jinx Sister is Athina’s latest feature film, which had its world premier at the Auckland International Film Festival. It will be released theatrically throughout NZ in November.

Athina also teaches at the School of Performing and Screen Arts, Unitec.  She is a longstanding member of the Auckland film community and a past Vice President of NZWG and Wift Auckland.

Athina believes that the script is the starting point upon which all creative decisions must be based.  Also, it is imperative in a small country like New Zealand that the diversity in our story telling is nurtured and allowed to blossom. Email a.tsoulis@xtra.co.nz


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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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