John Bates

John Bates was born in Ayrshire, Scotland. Like many first generation immigrants, he claims to have been lured to New Zealand by his wife - in this case Auckland-born Karen. He arrived on Bastille Day 1979, just in time to watch the French beat the All Blacks at Eden Park (and witness the national mourning that followed).

Bates took a part-time degree in Asian History between 1981 and 1986, while working as a researcher and writer for the Auckland University Students' Association. There he organised demonstrations against the Springbok Tour, wrote for student magazine Craccum, and was involved with Campus Radio as it transformed to 95BFM. 

In 1988, Bates completed the Diploma in Broadcast Communications, run by Richard Smith at Auckland University's Audio-Visual Centre.

From there, he spent a few years making horse racing shows and corporate videos for Neil Roberts and Garry McAlpine, at independent company Communicado. Then Bates left New Zealand to travel.

When he and his wife returned in 1992, Bates worked at the University and began making documentaries, including The Dutchman, Banned, and Sense of Place: Robin Morrison Photographer. 

During this time, Karen Bates (production and research), Bryan Shaw (editing) and John Bates established the working relationship that has been a crucial part of all the documentaries they have made together over the years.

Bates' natural modesty belies his record as one of New Zealand's most accomplished documentary filmmakers. He and his close knit team have several times been finalists or winners in local film and television awards.

Sense of Place: Robin Morrison Photographer won Best Documentary at the 1994 NZ Film & TV Awards. 1951, about the 1951 Waterfront Dispute, won best Documentary and Best Director at the 2002 Qantas Media Awards.

At the 2005 Qantas Media Awards, New Faces Old Fears was a finalist and Gang Girls (made with Paula Jones) won best Documentary at the 2002 Qantas Media Awards. Reflections - Gretchen Albrecht (2006), a documentary on the veteran abstract artist, was selected for the Doc NZ festival, and the Festival of Art at the Palazzo di Venezia in Rome.

John Bates continues to make documentaries.