IreneGardiner
- Producer
- Executive
Irene Gardiner is known for her work as a producer and commissioning editor, and her time as head of the TVNZ production unit. She has extensive experience in popular factual programmes and documentaries. Gardiner was NZ On Screen's Content Director from 2009 to 2016, and is also a media commentator. She is the president of Kiwi screen organisation SPADA, and a member of the Radio New Zealand board.
Screenography
Biography
Irene Gardiner began her career as a journalist at Wellington's Dominion newspaper, then later "stumbled into becoming a television producer". In 1984, she became a publicist at the TVNZ publicity department at Avalon. An interest in TV production developed from there, and in 1986 she became a trainee producer/director, working in Avalon's music unit on shows like Ready to Roll, Radio with Pictures and True Colours.
Awards
2020 New Zealand Television Awards
Nominated for Best Documentary (with Clare Mackey): Help is On The Way
“The most difficult thing about being a commissioning editor in New Zealand is that there are so many great programme ideas, and only the money to make a very small percentage of them.”