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Writer and documentary film maker, I now describe myself simply as a storyteller.

I’ve worked in media all my life, first as a television presenter, then as a documentary director and one-person camera-operator. I’ve made films in New Zealand, East Africa and the South Pacific, and also spent a number of years producing and directing current affairs.

Throughout my life I’ve written features for various magazines as a freelance contributor, often requiring a depth of investigative research.  

More recently, I’ve turned to writing nonfiction books. My strength, I believe, is to take complex material and turn it into a story that is accessible and interesting. 

Over the course of my career I’ve traversed a good many subject areas, cultures, genres and war-torn corners of the globe, and interviewed people from every walk of life.

I like to think of myself as adaptable and approachable, as someone who can offer the requisite sensitivity and understanding in order to tell the right story. 

Have a browse through the selection of past projects. And please get in touch if you think I can help with an idea or project.  

 
 
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BOOKS

Over recent years, I’ve been able to pursue writing nonfiction books, two with the support of publisher Robbie Burton, Potton & Burton Publishing.

 
 
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EDITORIALS

I’ve written feature stories for New Zealand magazines as a freelance contributor throughout my career. Magazines include NZ Listener, North & South, Heritage NZ, Wilderness, Mindfood, Metro, Next, NZ House & Garden, Scout and 1964. Examples include:

(click images below to view editorials)

Not If, But When’, North & South Magazine, 2022.

Not If, But When’, North & South Magazine, 2022.
Guardians Angels (North & South 2004, Winner of the NZ Peace Media Award 2005).

Guardians Angels (North & South 2004, Winner of the NZ Peace Media Award 2005).
Fly Guy – Search & Rescue helicopter pilot Sir Richard ‘Hannibal’ Hayes (North & South 2006).

Fly Guy – Search & Rescue helicopter pilot Sir Richard ‘Hannibal’ Hayes (North & South 2006).
The People’s Professor – genetics versus Māori beliefs and culture (North & South 2005).

The People’s Professor – genetics versus Māori beliefs and culture (North & South 2005).
The Fire Inside – restoration of the only wood and coal-fired bakery in NZ (Heritage NZ 2020).

The Fire Inside – restoration of the only wood and coal-fired bakery in NZ (Heritage NZ 2020).
Change of Life, All Right – investigation into the science of menopause (North & South 2015).

Change of Life, All Right – investigation into the science of menopause (North & South 2015).
Babes in the Wild – investigation of deaths on the Milford Track (North & South 2014).

Babes in the Wild – investigation of deaths on the Milford Track (North & South 2014).
Furore in Fiordland – investigation into DOC concession process (North & South 2012).

Furore in Fiordland – investigation into DOC concession process (North & South 2012).

DOCUMENTARY

I trained as a one-person camera-operator ‘back in the day’ (1990-92) for the ground-breaking series Firsthand, thanks to visionary Richard Thomas and producer George Andrews. With those invaluable skills of camera and sound operating, editing and storytelling, I went on to make documentaries in New Zealand and overseas, sometimes as sole camera-operator, later as director and producer.

“I never read books, but I’ve read yours, cover to cover, and I loved it.”