Marama Martin
Almost everyone in New Zealand over "a certain age" will remember Marama Martin. For 10 years from 1965 she was a continuity announcer on NZBC Television (when it was the only channel). She was there for the first network broadcast, and was the first person to be seen in colour on New Zealand television. Martin passed away on 10 July 2017.
Sally Martin
Sally Martin was first spotted by a casting director while acting on stage at a Wellington high school. Since international hit The Tribe in 2002, she has rarely been off television screens: she co-starred as ninja hero Tori Hanson in Power Rangers Ninja Storm, and played the feisty Sasha in backpacker TV comedy Welcome to Paradise. In 2009 Martin joined the cast of Shortland Street for an extended run as nurse Nicole Miller, on and off partner of Maia Jeffries.
Martin Blythe
Martin Blythe’s work as a publicist includes the Transformers and Shrek franchises. Long ago he directed cult car culture film Queen Street, before deciding filmmaking was far too egotistical an exercise. Kiwi-born Blythe went on to gain a PhD in film and TV, review films for The Listener, and write 1994 book Naming the Other: Images of the Māori in New Zealand Film and Television. He has been based in LA since 1984.
Martin Henderson
Martin Henderson's Hollywood leading roles have seen him fighting globalisation (Battle in Seattle), strange forces (The Ring) and dancing (Bride & Prejudice). An original member of the Shortland Street cast, Henderson scored ongoing roles on Australian TV before heading to the US. Variety magazine called his drug-dealing amputee in Little Fish "a revelation". In 2014 he won further acclaim starring in Australian mini-series Secrets and Lies.
Allan Martin
Allan Martin, OBE, worked as a television executive on both sides of the Tasman, but had his roots in programme making. He began making TV in England in the early 60s. Returning home, he developed influential programmes for the NZBC in Compass and Town and Around. Headhunted by the ABC in Australia, he returned to NZ in 1975 to set up the new second channel, and later became Director-General of TVNZ.
Kelly Martin
Kelly Martin is chief executive of leading New Zealand production company South Pacific Pictures. Martin rose through the network ranks from photocopying to international acquisitions, before she became director of programming at TV3 — where she oversaw local drama successes like Outrageous Fortune, and comedy hits bro’Town and 7 Days. In 2012 she left TV3 to head up South Pacific Pictures.
Martin Edmond
The work of writer Martin Edmond rarely slots into easy geographical or stylistic boxes. After making his screen debut as co-writer of Illustrious Energy — an evocative portrait of Chinese gold prospectors in Central Otago — Edmond has gone on to explore tales of outsiders in another three feature films, and a number of books.
Martin Baynton
Brit-born Martin Baynton has authored more than 30 children's books. After emigrating down under in 1987, he began developing television shows based on his work. After joining Richard Taylor and Tania Rodger to adapt his book series Jane and the Dragon for TV, the trio founded company Pūkeko Pictures and made successful pre-school export The WotWots. The sometime actor also narrated on WotWots.
Martin Devlin
Martin Devlin began his love affair with radio in the late 80s. Since then he has stacked up multiple awards for Sports Broadcaster of the Year, and been in at the birth of stations The Edge, Radio Sport, and RadioLIVE. Devlin made his TV debut in the late 90s, hosting House of Football and competing on A Game of Two Halves. He hosted TV One’s coverage of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, and 2011 Rugby World Cup.
Alan Morris
In a career spanning four decades, Alan Morris worked in radio and television in NZ, Australia, England and Europe. He turned his hand to announcing, copywriting, presenting and training, but at heart felt he was a producer and director. Morris was Director-General of TV One during the early days of two channel TV in NZ in the late 70s, and also held senior positions at the ABC and Associated-Rediffusion in the UK.