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Profile image for Melanie Rakena

Melanie Rakena

Director/ Producer

Melanie Rakena partnered with Jane Andrews in 2002 to create Jam TV. The long-running company specialised in popular factual television, much of it involving travel. Jam programmes like Intrepid Journeys, Off The Rails and Global Radar have managed to achieve both popular and critical acclaim.

I'm very glad I didn't listen to the careers officer at Temuka High School who told me to go and work at the bank. Melanie Rakena

Thumbnail image for Jam TV: Melanie Rakena and Jane Andrews...
Interview

Jam TV: Melanie Rakena and Jane Andrews...

Interview, 2010

Thumbnail image for The Changing Face of the New Zealand Dairy

The Changing Face of the New Zealand Dairy

2020, Director, Producer - Television

Thumbnail image for NZ Story

NZ Story

2013, Producer - Television

Thumbnail image for This Town

This Town

2013 - 2015, Producer - Television

Thumbnail image for NZ Story - Helena McAlpine, Living Every Moment

NZ Story - Helena McAlpine, Living Every Moment

2013, Producer - Television

Thumbnail image for NZ Story - Meng Foon

NZ Story - Meng Foon

2013, Producer - Television

Thumbnail image for This Town - First Episode

This Town - First Episode

2013, Director, Producer - Television

Thumbnail image for Intrepid Journeys - Sumatra (Rachel Hunter)

Intrepid Journeys - Sumatra (Rachel Hunter)

2012, Producer - Television

Thumbnail image for Intrepid Journeys - Myanmar (Oscar Kightley)

Intrepid Journeys - Myanmar (Oscar Kightley)

2012, Producer, Executive Producer - Television

Thumbnail image for Intrepid Journeys - Nepal (Steve Price)

Intrepid Journeys - Nepal (Steve Price)

2012, Producer - Television

Thumbnail image for Intrepid Journeys - Papua New Guinea (Pamela Stephenson Connolly)

Intrepid Journeys - Papua New Guinea (Pamela Stephenson Connolly)

2012, Executive Producer - Television

Thumbnail image for Intrepid Journeys - Tanzania, Kenya and Zanzibar (Keisha Castle-Hughes)

Intrepid Journeys - Tanzania, Kenya and Zanzibar (Keisha Castle-Hughes)

2011, Executive Producer - Television

Thumbnail image for North

North

2011, Director - Television

Thumbnail image for The Hunt for the Pink and White Terraces

The Hunt for the Pink and White Terraces

2011, Executive Producer - Television

Thumbnail image for Intrepid Journeys - Oman (Tāmati Coffey)

Intrepid Journeys - Oman (Tāmati Coffey)

2011, Executive Producer - Television

Thumbnail image for Intrepid Journeys - Tajikistan (Lynda Topp)

Intrepid Journeys - Tajikistan (Lynda Topp)

2011, Executive Producer - Television

Thumbnail image for Intrepid Journeys - Turkey and Iran (Simon Gault)

Intrepid Journeys - Turkey and Iran (Simon Gault)

2011, Executive Producer - Television

Thumbnail image for North - First Episode

North - First Episode

2011, Director, Producer - Television

Thumbnail image for 50 Years of New Zealand Television: 1 - From One Channel to One Hundred

50 Years of New Zealand Television: 1 - From One Channel to One Hundred

2010, Subject - Television

Thumbnail image for 50 Years of New Zealand Television: 6 - A Sense of Identity

50 Years of New Zealand Television: 6 - A Sense of Identity

2010, Subject - Television

Thumbnail image for Intrepid Journeys - Ukraine (Kevin Milne)

Intrepid Journeys - Ukraine (Kevin Milne)

2009, Executive Producer - Television

Thumbnail image for Intrepid Journeys - Rwanda (Rhys Darby)

Intrepid Journeys - Rwanda (Rhys Darby)

2009, Director, Executive Producer - Television

Thumbnail image for Intrepid Journeys - Laos (Ruben Wiki)

Intrepid Journeys - Laos (Ruben Wiki)

2009, Executive Producer - Television

Thumbnail image for Intrepid Journeys - Mexico, Guatemala and Honduras (Anika Moa)

Intrepid Journeys - Mexico, Guatemala and Honduras (Anika Moa)

2009, Executive Producer - Television

Thumbnail image for Intrepid Journeys - Sikkim and Darjeeling (Temepara Bailey)

Intrepid Journeys - Sikkim and Darjeeling (Temepara Bailey)

2009, Executive Producer - Television

Thumbnail image for Intrepid Journeys - Vanuatu (Brendan Cole)

Intrepid Journeys - Vanuatu (Brendan Cole)

2009, Executive Producer - Television

Thumbnail image for South

South

2009, Producer - Television

Thumbnail image for South - First Episode

South - First Episode

2009, Director, Producer - Television

Thumbnail image for Intrepid Journeys - Yemen (Paul Holmes)

Intrepid Journeys - Yemen (Paul Holmes)

2008, Director - Television

Thumbnail image for Intrepid Journeys - Sri Lanka (Shane Cortese)

Intrepid Journeys - Sri Lanka (Shane Cortese)

2008, Executive Producer - Television

Thumbnail image for Intrepid Journeys - Borneo (Norm Hewitt)

Intrepid Journeys - Borneo (Norm Hewitt)

2008, Executive Producer - Television

Thumbnail image for Intrepid Journeys - Colombia (Pam Corkery)

Intrepid Journeys - Colombia (Pam Corkery)

2008, Executive Producer - Television

Thumbnail image for Intrepid Journeys - Ladakh (Stephanie Tauevihi)

Intrepid Journeys - Ladakh (Stephanie Tauevihi)

2008, Executive Producer - Television

Thumbnail image for Intrepid Journeys - Namibia (Jenny Shipley)

Intrepid Journeys - Namibia (Jenny Shipley)

2008, Executive Producer - Television

Thumbnail image for Off the Radar - Is Modern Christmas Sustainable?

Off the Radar - Is Modern Christmas Sustainable?

2008, Director, Producer - Television

Thumbnail image for Intrepid Journeys - Mali (Te Radar)

Intrepid Journeys - Mali (Te Radar)

2007, Executive Producer - Television

Thumbnail image for ICE

ICE

2007, Producer - Television

Thumbnail image for ICE - Full Series

ICE - Full Series

2007, Director, Producer - Television

Thumbnail image for Intrepid Journeys - Libya (Jeremy Wells)

Intrepid Journeys - Libya (Jeremy Wells)

2007, Executive Producer - Television

Thumbnail image for Intrepid Journeys - Madagascar (John Banks)

Intrepid Journeys - Madagascar (John Banks)

2007, Director, Executive Producer - Television

Thumbnail image for Intrepid Journeys - Nepal (Anton Oliver)

Intrepid Journeys - Nepal (Anton Oliver)

2007, Executive Producer - Television

Thumbnail image for Intrepid Journeys - Russia (Marcus Lush)

Intrepid Journeys - Russia (Marcus Lush)

2007, Producer - Television

Thumbnail image for Intrepid Journeys - Vietnam and China (Suzanne Paul)

Intrepid Journeys - Vietnam and China (Suzanne Paul)

2007, Executive Producer - Television

Thumbnail image for Dave Dobbyn - One Night in Matatā

Dave Dobbyn - One Night in Matatā

2005, Co-Director, Producer - Television

Thumbnail image for Intrepid Journeys - China (Miriama Smith)

Intrepid Journeys - China (Miriama Smith)

2005, Executive Producer - Television

Thumbnail image for Intrepid Journeys - Cuba (Kim Hill)

Intrepid Journeys - Cuba (Kim Hill)

2005, Producer - Television

Thumbnail image for Intrepid Journeys - Eastern Europe (Jeff Wilson)

Intrepid Journeys - Eastern Europe (Jeff Wilson)

2005, Executive Producer - Television

Thumbnail image for Intrepid Journeys - Indonesia (Andrew Fagan)

Intrepid Journeys - Indonesia (Andrew Fagan)

2005, Producer - Television

Thumbnail image for Intrepid Journeys - Malaysia (Lisa Chappell)

Intrepid Journeys - Malaysia (Lisa Chappell)

2005, Producer - Television

Thumbnail image for Intrepid Journeys - Morocco (Dave Dobbyn)

Intrepid Journeys - Morocco (Dave Dobbyn)

2005, Director, Executive Producer - Television

Thumbnail image for Intrepid Journeys - Nicaragua (Rawiri Paratene)

Intrepid Journeys - Nicaragua (Rawiri Paratene)

2005, Producer - Television

Thumbnail image for Intrepid Journeys - Southern India (Chris Knox)

Intrepid Journeys - Southern India (Chris Knox)

2005, Producer - Television

Thumbnail image for Intrepid Journeys - Turkey (Trelise Cooper)

Intrepid Journeys - Turkey (Trelise Cooper)

2005, Executive Producer - Television

Thumbnail image for Intrepid Journeys - Uganda (Roger Hall)

Intrepid Journeys - Uganda (Roger Hall)

2005, Producer - Television

Thumbnail image for Off the Rails - Good as Gold (Episode 10)

Off the Rails - Good as Gold (Episode 10)

2004, Director, Producer - Television

Thumbnail image for Intrepid Journeys - Borneo (Tim Shadbolt)

Intrepid Journeys - Borneo (Tim Shadbolt)

2004, Producer, Director - Television

Thumbnail image for Intrepid Journeys - Cambodia (Kerre Woodham)

Intrepid Journeys - Cambodia (Kerre Woodham)

2004, Producer, Director - Television

Thumbnail image for Intrepid Journeys - China (Katie Wolfe)

Intrepid Journeys - China (Katie Wolfe)

2004, Producer - Television

Thumbnail image for Intrepid Journeys - East Timor (Karyn Hay)

Intrepid Journeys - East Timor (Karyn Hay)

2004, Producer - Television

Thumbnail image for Intrepid Journeys - Ecuador (Michael Laws)

Intrepid Journeys - Ecuador (Michael Laws)

2004, Director, Producer - Television

Thumbnail image for Intrepid Journeys - India (Pio Terei)

Intrepid Journeys - India (Pio Terei)

2004, Producer - Television

Thumbnail image for Intrepid Journeys - Mexico (Donald Grant Sunderland)

Intrepid Journeys - Mexico (Donald Grant Sunderland)

2004, Producer, Director - Television

Thumbnail image for Intrepid Journeys - Mongolia (Hugh Sundae)

Intrepid Journeys - Mongolia (Hugh Sundae)

2004, Producer - Television

Thumbnail image for Intrepid Journeys - Myanmar (Jon Gadsby)

Intrepid Journeys - Myanmar (Jon Gadsby)

2004, Producer - Television

Thumbnail image for Intrepid Journeys - Nepal (Craig Parker)

Intrepid Journeys - Nepal (Craig Parker)

2004, Producer - Television

Thumbnail image for Intrepid Journeys - Peru (Ewen Gilmour)

Intrepid Journeys - Peru (Ewen Gilmour)

2004, Producer, Director - Television

Thumbnail image for Intrepid Journeys - Syria and Jordan (Danielle Cormack)

Intrepid Journeys - Syria and Jordan (Danielle Cormack)

2004, Director - Television

Thumbnail image for Intrepid Journeys - Tibet (Paul Henry)

Intrepid Journeys - Tibet (Paul Henry)

2004, Producer - Television

Thumbnail image for Intrepid Journeys - Vietnam (Robyn Malcolm)

Intrepid Journeys - Vietnam (Robyn Malcolm)

2004, Producer - Television

Thumbnail image for Off the Rails - Rail Rider (Episode Nine)

Off the Rails - Rail Rider (Episode Nine)

2004, Director, Producer - Television

Thumbnail image for Intrepid Journeys - Bolivia (Peta Mathias)

Intrepid Journeys - Bolivia (Peta Mathias)

2003, Producer - Television

Thumbnail image for Intrepid Journeys - Egypt (Marcus Lush)

Intrepid Journeys - Egypt (Marcus Lush)

2003, Producer - Television

Thumbnail image for Intrepid Journeys - Kenya (Peter Elliott)

Intrepid Journeys - Kenya (Peter Elliott)

2003, Producer - Television

Thumbnail image for Angela D'Audney - A Tribute

Angela D'Audney - A Tribute

2002, Executive Producer - Television

Thumbnail image for From Here to Maternity - First Episode

From Here to Maternity - First Episode

2001, Executive Producer - Television

Thumbnail image for Havoc Luxury Suites & Conference Facility - Episode 10

Havoc Luxury Suites & Conference Facility - Episode 10

2001, Executive Producer - Television

Thumbnail image for Havoc Luxury Suites & Conference Facility - Episode Six

Havoc Luxury Suites & Conference Facility - Episode Six

2001, Executive Producer - Television

Thumbnail image for Trio at the Top

Trio at the Top

2001, Executive Producer - Television

Thumbnail image for Maggie's Garden Show - Ellerslie Flower Show Special

Maggie's Garden Show - Ellerslie Flower Show Special

2000, Executive Producer - Television

Thumbnail image for Mucking In

Mucking In

2000 - 2009, Executive Producer - Television

Thumbnail image for Real Food for Real People with Jo Seagar - First Episode

Real Food for Real People with Jo Seagar - First Episode

1998, Floor Manager - Television