Bailey Mackey
Bailey Mackey's first television job was as a reporter for Māori news programme Te Karere. Later, while Head of Sport for Māori Television, he created long-running sports show Code. Mackey established companies Black Inc Media and Pango Productions, and co-created high profile 2012 reality series The GC. He also sold the format for Pango's hit show Sidewalk Karaoke to global company FremantleMedia.
Erina Tamepo
In a television career spanning more than 25 years, Erina Tamepo has produced a wide variety of shows, many from her time as an in-house producer for Māori Television. Among Tamepo’s credits is popular Friday night karaoke competition series Homai Te Pakipaki — which ran for nine years — and Willie Jackson’s Newsbites, which was nominated for a Qantas Award for Best Current Affairs Series in 2010.
Te Hamua Nikora
Ex rapper Te Hamua Nikora cut his screen teeth as an early presenter of pioneering Māori youth show Pūkana (back when it was called Tūmeke). Later he became well known as a host of Kai Time on the Road, and as the bald-headed, big-hearted frontman of popular Māori TV karaoke shows Homai te Pakipaki and its successor Sidewalk Karaoke. In 2017 he teamed up with Laughing Samoan Tofiga Fepulea’i, for comedy show Hamu and Tofiga. Nikora has stood twice for the Mana Party in the Ikaroa-Rāwhiti electorate; he has hosted music and sports awards, Te Matatini, and is a motivational speaker and advocate for men’s health.
Debra Kelleher
Wellington-raised producer Debra Kelleher has more than three decades experience in the screen industry. She cut her production teeth in Australia (Neighbours, Sale of the Century), before returning home to work on Shortland Street, then cult teen show The Tribe. Kelleher was at the helm of breakfast TV show Good Morning, and five seasons of flagship TVNZ show Dancing with The Stars.
Sally Stockwell
Since graduating from drama school Toi Whakaari in 1995, Sally Stockwell has acted on television (Shortland Street, Insiders Guide to Happiness), stage (The Women, The Arrival), and in four features. Stockwell also sings and teaches voice.
Nevak Rogers
As the Head of Content Development at Māori Television and commissioning consultant for TVNZ's Māori and Pacific Programmes, Nevak Rogers is always looking to capture that elusive rangatahi audience. The former journalist and moved into directing and producing Māori and Pacific Island stories. She has presented popular reality shows like Marae DIY and produced doco Ngā Tamatoa - 40 Years On.
Matthew Chamberlain
After forays into agriculture studies and time overseas, Matthew Chamberlain faced up to his desire to act. The 1992 Toi Whakaari graduate has now done 50 plus screen roles, reflecting his love of the "more intimate" mediums of film and TV. His CV includes Black Sheep, Under the Mountain, Duggan, and two stints on Shortland Street - as a womanising medic, and a "grumpy, protective and dead embarrassing" Dad.
John Callen
The distinctive voice of John Callen has graced dozens of documentaries and commercials. Onscreen, the Brit-born actor and director has played dwarves (in Peter Jackson's The Hobbit), PM David Lange (The Sinking of the Rainbow Warrior) and villainous DJs (Send a Gorilla). Callen has also worked as a director, helming The Tribe, Battle of Britain doco The Kiwi Who Saved Britain and many episodes of Shortland Street.
Miriama Smith
Miriama Smith began acting on screen as a teen. Over a dozen roles and a decade later, she joined the cast for three seasons of TV series Mercy Peak. She went on to star as feisty corporate boss Brady Truebridge in Filthy Rich. The versatile Smith has done screen time as a gang leader (The Tribe), mother (Stolen, Kaitangata Twitch), competitive dancer (Dancing with the Stars) and presenter (Finding Aroha).