Jim Hickey
Jim Hickey spent more than two decades using his dextrous vocabulary to predict the likely path of sun, rain and wind. A longtime TV One fixture as weather forecaster on the primetime news, Hickey has also brought his distinctive presentation style to a host of other shows, including Country Calendar and A Flying Visit.
Tini Molyneux
In her 10 year tenure as Māori Affairs correspondent for One News, Tini Molyneux fronted some of the biggest news stories in New Zealand, let alone Māoridom — including the Foreshore and Seabed hikoi, the birth of the Māori Party and the 2007 Urerewa police raids. She began her 30 year television career as a newsreader for Te Karere, and went on to present and report stories for Waka Huia and Marae.
Simon Dallow
Simon Dallow worked as a lawyer before changing tack in Europe, and starting six years in tourism. Soon after returning home in 1993 he scored his first newsreading job, on TV2's Newsnight. Best known for his many years co-presenting TV One's primetime news bulletin, Dallow has also fronted Rugby World Cup coverage, acclaimed current affairs interview show Agenda, and historical series What Lies Beneath.
Nik Beachman
Producer Nik Beachman worked on a run of Cannes Film Festival successes in the mid 2000s, as executive producer of short films Fog, Run and Nature's Way (Run was runner-up in 2007 for Cannes' top prize for shorts, the Palme d'Or). Beachman began his screen career as an Assistant Director. In 2000 he produced three short films in a single year. On the feature front, he was part of the producing team on Lee Tamahori's Mahana and 2018's Vermillion. Beachman's production company Thick as Thieves has worked on many high-profile commercials, including a Utah-shot Hallensteins ad featuring motorcyclists in suits.
Mark Sainsbury
As longtime host of primetime current affairs show Close Up, Mark Sainsbury became a household name; in 2007 the Sunday Star Times described his moustache as “the most famous in the country.” But the ginger duster doesn’t overshadow the experience and talent he’s brought to many roles over a long broadcasting career: from reporting for One News and Holmes, to officiating at Sir Edmund Hillary's funeral.
Adam Strange
After making his first commercial in 1995, one-time graphic designer Adam Strange went on to direct for high profile clients (Pepsi, Toyota, Casio) across Asia, and beyond. His film Aphrodite's Farm — about a family with a magical secret — played in 18 international festivals, winning best short film in its section at the 2009 Berlin Film Festival. Adam Strange died in a West Auckland shark attack on 27 February 2013.
Josh Frizzell
Part of a well-known Kiwi arts family, Josh Frizzell’s screen apprenticeship involved props and design; one early gig saw him delivering prop machine guns up the Shotover River by helicopter. He went on to direct a run of music videos in the 1990s, including award-winners for Emma Paki and Shihad. Frizzell has gone on to helm episodes of The Brokenwood Mysteries and Fresh Eggs, plus TV movie Ablaze, about the 1949 Ballantyne's fire. His advertising work includes multiple inflight safety campaigns for Air New Zealand, and a break-in at the Tui Brewery. He is one of the owners of Trans-Tasman commercials company Eight.
Duncan Garner
When Duncan Garner began co-presenting TV3's 3rd Degree in 2013, he already had 17 years in television behind him — much of it spent in the press gallery. Garner began at TVNZ in the mid 90s as a political reporter, after studying Communications at Auckland University of Technology. Following time as a reporter on Holmes, he joined TV3 in 2003. Four years later he became the channel's political editor, and was judged Qantas TV Journalist of the Year. After a stint on primetime current affairs slot Story, it was announced that Garner would be leading TV3's new morning show in 2017, taking over from Paul Henry.