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MelanieRakena

  • Director
  • Producer
Melanie_Rakena_Key_Profile.jpg

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.

Screenography

The Changing Face of the New Zealand Dairy
2020 Producer, Director Television
Following Twain
2019 Co-Director, Producer Series
DNA Detectives
2015 - 2017 Producer Series
NZ Story - Meng Foon
2013 Producer Television
This Town - First Episode
2013 Director, Producer Television

Biography

In a screen career spanning more than two decades, Melanie Rakena has produced more than a thousand hours of television. Rakena has spent time in floor management, executive producing, and head of the Lifestyle Unit at TVNZ, where she oversaw an array of reality and magazine formats.

Awards

2012 New Zealand Television Awards
Best Information Series: Global Radar
Nominated for Best Factual Series: Intrepid Journeys

2011 Aotearoa Film and Television Awards
Nominated for Best Information Programme: North, episode 6
Nominated for Best Observational Reality Series: Intrepid Journeys

“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

Related images

Melanie-Rakena-gallery.jpg
Melanie Rakena during the shooting of ICE.
Kindly provided by Jam TV.