We are a leading multi-genre Film & TV production company that thrives on creating strong ideas we believe in.
Who we are
Creating ambitious and gripping programs that push boundaries
We seek out passionate, innovative and world-class talent, and give them the tools to create ambitious and gripping programs that push boundaries and resonate with audiences across the world.
Started in 2002, Great Southern Television is a multi-award winning international production company based in Auckland, New Zealand.
Since then, we have produced over 80 original productions and worked with the likes of The BBC, Netflix, AMC, Discovery, The History Channel, Foxtel, TVNZ, THREE and Channel 7. We have won numerous local and international awards - including Best Drama at the New Zealand Television Awards.
Great Southern Television is motivated by a passion for three things:
Great Stories.
With indie sensibilities, we pursue unique narratives with scale and ambition. We strive to deliver work of an extremely high-calibre - whether that be a long-running drama series, a feature film, an observational documentary series, or a commercial reality television show - that resonates with audiences around the world.
Great People.
Great stories need great storytellers. Great Southern Television has built an international reputation for working with world-class writers, producers, directors and visionaries. We are invested in supporting and developing outstanding creatives: whether established or emerging.
Great Partners.
At Great Southern Television, we believe stories should entertain, inspire and challenge audiences around the world. We work alongside indigenous communities and companies, and are proudly one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s leading producers of Māori programmes. Great Southern Television actively contributes to the development of a new generation of indigenous storytellers through our own bespoke initiatives.
Team
Chief Executive Officer
Philip Smith
Philip is one of Australasia’s most prolific television producers, having created over 50 original television series that have screened around the world, including on BBC, Netflix, Amazon Prime, Sky UK, Nat Geo, Discovery, the History Channel, Ch7 Australia, Ch9 Australia, TVNZ, TV3 and Prime. Philip oversees the creative direction of Great Southern, pitching, sales, and the production of all shows at an Executive Producer level.
Head of Post-Production
Cass Donaldson
Cass has worked in the film and television industry since the early 90’s. An award-winning producer, Cass has worked on a wide variety of projects; from big budget Hollywood features, to being a Technical Supervisor on major reality series such as ‘The Biggest Loser’. Cass acts as Production/Post-Production manager on Great Southern’s unscripted/factual projects.
Head of Indigenous Development
Annabelle Lee-Mather
Annabelle Lee-Mather (Ngāi Tahu, Kāti Māmoe, Ngāti Kahungunu) is a multi award-winning Māori television-maker who has worked in indigeous programming for nearly two decades. She is the creator and an executive producer of the Netflix acquired series The Casketeers and the executive producer of Three’s acclaimed current affairs series The Hui. As part of her role at Great Southern, Annabelle oversees all aspects of indigenous storytelling.
Financial Controller
Vicky Maples
Vicky manages the Corporate and Production Finance department. She also manages, develops and implements the financial systems for Great Southern Television. Vicky has a strong background in Project Accounting. Prior to joining GSTV, she spent 10 years in the Advertising Industry.
Head of Factual
Adrian Stevanon
An award-winning journalist and producer of Samoan/Swiss descent. Over the last 18 years he has directed, reported and produced for a number of documentaries, as well as for One News, Native Affairs, The Hui, The Coconet & Sunday. Adrian oversees and drives all development and factual projects for Great Southern.
Head of Drama
Kathleen Anderson
Kathleen joined GSTV in 2020 as Executive Producer of One Lane Bridge, and to develop an exciting slate of new projects. Before joining, Kathleen was Head of Scripted at Te Reo Tātaki, Television New Zealand where she worked across a range of drama and comedy including, Wellington Paranormal, In Dark Places, Ablaze, Baby Mama’s Club, and international co-production, The Luminaries.
Development Executive
Victoria Boult
After undertaking a Bachelor of Arts in Film Studies and English Literature (Hons I) at the University of Sydney, Victoria (Ngāi Tahu) joined Great Southern in the role of Development Executive. Her responsibilities include supporting the ideation, development and production of all unscripted, factual and drama series at GSTV.
Assistant Accountant
Kelly Bent
Kelly studied a Bachelor of Business Analysis at the University of Waikato, before joining the team at Great Southern. She is responsible for day-to-day accounting, accounts payable, payroll, accounts reconciliation, month end, cash and bank management.
Awards
Best Format Reality Series
The Restaurant That Makes Mistakes
NZTV Awards 2023 - Winner
Best Format Reality Series
The Apprentice Aotearoa
NZTV Awards 2021 - Nominated
Best Current Affairs Programme
The Hui
NZTV Awards 2021 - Winner
Te Māngai Paho Best Māori Programme
The Hui
NZTV Awards 2021 - Winner
Best Presenter, Entertainment
Tāmati Rimene-Sproat, Hongi To Hāngī:And Everything In Between
NZTV Awards 2021 - Winner
Te Māngai Paho Best Māori Programme
The Casketeers
NZTV Awards 2021 - Winner
Best Original Reality Series
The Casketeers
NZTV Awards 2021 - Nominated/p>
Te Māngai Paho Best Māori Programme
NZ Wars; Stories of Tainui
NZTV Awards 2021 - Nominated
Best Editing, Drama
One Lane Bridge, Season 2
>NZTV Awards - Nominated
Best Script, Drama
One Lane Bridge, Season 2
>NZTV Awards - Nominated
Best Drama Series
One Lane Bridge, Season 2
NZ On Air Awards
Best Drama Series
One Lane Bridge
>NZ On Air Awards
Te Māngai Paho Best Māori Programme
NZ Wars; Stories of Waitara
NZTV Awards 2020
Best Format Reality Series
My Restaurant Rules
NZTV Awards 2020