About us
Who we are
Film Bay of Plenty, Ngā Auaha Whakaari o Te Waiariki is a Regional Film Office that grows, strengthens and supports the screen sector in the Bay of Plenty. This includes film, television, games, animation, high-end TV, branded-content, vloggers/influencers, VFX, immersive tech and marketing and communications.
As a team, we have deep roots in both local and international production and are motivated to develop a sustainable film industry in the Bay of Plenty. As well as advocacy work with productions, our role includes liaising with the New Zealand Film Commission on project leads, regular meetings with RFONZ to share information on potential projects, and developing and facilitating workshop opportunities that extend career pathways.
For more information or to discuss a filming opportunity, we’re here to help.
“We are thrilled that Runaway Millionaires has been nominated for so many international awards and we look forward to servicing more projects like this in the near future.”
Film Bay of Plenty
Our team members
Jade Kent
Film Office Executive
From New Zealand to Qatar and then to Opōtiki Jade has put some travel miles and work experiences under her belt and the experiences she has gained are invaluable.
As a previous logistics supervisr working for Al Jazeera English Jade knows how important having a good foundation of people, systems and training are to any organization. Having worked for TVNZ, Maori TV, Sky and Al Jazeera Jade’s continuing passion for TV and film pushes her forward as she continues to pursue her passion of working with creatives.
Elysia Gibb
Marketing Manager & Production Supervisor
Elysia has been working as the Film Bay of Plenty Production Supervisor since 2019. Previous to this she split her life working between the film industry and in tourism. She has worked as a coordinator on feature films such as The Hobbit, Wolverine, Yogi Bear and 10000BC.
She also spent 15 years in Queenstown working in the Tourism Industry evolving from a sales position, guiding and then to successfully marketing and managing a heliskiing company.
Her skills lie in marketing, logistics, coordinating, networking and administration. Presently she balances life between being a mum, adventures, and work so brings a very diverse set of skills to Film Bay of Plenty.
Our board members
Sharon Menzies
Chair - Iwi Te Aitanga-a-Māhaki
Sharon Menzies governance experience spans over twelve years and includes chair roles, board positions and advisory positions at a national level both in New Zealand and Australia
From October 2017 to March 2022, Sharon was the Co-President of the New Zealand Screen Production and Development Association (SPADA). Since being elected, she has led the development of the film policy vision and strategic direction towards a robust and sustainable New Zealand screen production industry. From 2014 to 2016, she was the President of Women In Film and Television (WIFT), a not-for-profit organization dedicated to delivering education, professional development, networking and support services to women working in film, television and associated industries.
While most of her governance experience comes from not-for-profit organisations, Sharon’s extensive professional experience as a Managing Director for Fulcrum Media Finance, a market leading cashflow financier for film and television in Australia and New Zealand, has allowed her to establish a balanced and fair approach to governance with an emphasis on profitable outcomes through performance of people and processes. Understanding key stakeholder motivations in a business environment has positively influenced Sharon’s governance leadership style to focus on inclusivity and accountability.
In 2020 Sharon was awarded the WIFT Imagezone Entrepreneurship Award and in 2016 Fulcrum was Awarded the Services and Facilities Business of the Year in 2016 by Screen Producers Australia. She is also a member of the Institute of Directors and have completed their Company Director’s Course.
Joel Corbett
Board Member
Joel’s passionate about the craft of film-making and working to make a thriving film community in his region is one of his main objectives.
Award winning film-maker Joel Corbett grew up in small town New Zealand, surrounded by beautiful mountains and iconic vistas. Having picked up a camera at a young age, afforded a means to explore ideas, tell stories and ultimately share his vision. Now spending every waking minute honing film-making expertise as the CEO of Corbie Films, Taupō’s premiere film production company, and challenging his company to find creative and inventive ways to express their vision.
Sarah Thorner Crossley
Deputy chair
Sarah has over 10 years’ legal experience, specialising in Media, Intellectual Property and Corporate/Commercial Law.
Sarah has recently returned from seven years in London where she worked as senior legal counsel at FremantleMedia, a global production company known for shows such as the X Factor, Britain’s Got Talent and American Idol. She has over 10 years’ legal experience, specialising in Media, Intellectual Property and Corporate/Commercial Law. Her legal background and involvement in global media deals brings a unique perspective to the Board. She is passionate about film and television and is looking forward to supporting the local industry and community through her role on the Board.
Micah Winiata
Board Member
Born and raised in Tauranga Moana, Micah Winiata (Ngāti Ranginui / Ngāti Porou) is an independent film producer.
Born and raised in Tauranga Moana, Micah Winiata (Ngāti Ranginui / Ngāti Porou) is an independent film producer that has studied at the New Zealand Broadcasting School and Columbia College Chicago. He is an alumni of the Share the Knowledge ‘Production Coordinators Course’, and is on the judging panel for youth film challenges such as The Outlook for Someday, and the International Youth Silent Film Festival. Having produced numerous narrative shorts, an experimental nonverbal ‘Someday Story’ documentary entitled ‘TAIAO’, and a micro-budget feature film shot with Shortland Street stars, his stories and collaborations have travelled to festivals in Dubai, Chicago, Australia, and throughout the motu in Aotearoa.
Glenn Dougal
board member
Glenn Dougal is the Managing Director of WAVE Creative Communications Agency and has over 25 years international marketing, branding, TV production, and communications experience
Based in London and Tokyo for seven years, Glenn has worked for the BBC and Medialink (a specialist Nasdaq listed broadcasting consulting agency) advising large and small companies on marketing and communications campaigns. This ranged from launching Sony’s PlayStation 2, Jennifer Lopez’s perfume ‘Glow by J.Lo’, to advising the British Tourist Authority post the foot-in-mouth crisis. WAVE is an award-winning full-service brand communications agency based in the Bay Of Plenty their client list includes many of new Zealand’s most innovative companies, like Certified Builders, Port of Tauranga, Gallagher, Tasti Foods and Zespri.
Glenn also is a Director of the charity Legacy Funerals, Chairs Marketing Professionals Bay of Plenty and is the former Chair of the Tauranga Arts Festival Trust and Escape Readers & Writers Festival.
Kelly Martin
Board Member
Kelly Martin is Chief Executive of leading New Zealand production company South Pacific Pictures
Kelly spent the first 20 years of her career working across both TVNZ and Mediaworks, and rose through the network ranks from photocopying to international acquisitions, before she became Director of Programming at Mediaworks where she oversaw local drama successes like Outrageous Fortune, and comedy hits bro’Town and 7 Days.
Kelly joined South Pacific Pictures in 2012 and has worked as an Executive Producer on TV2’s top-rating soap Shortland Street, and on a run of shows, including Westside, The Almighty Johnsons, The Brokenwood Mysteries, 800 Words, Mean Mums, Educators, In Dark Places, The Bad Seed and The Sounds.
Kelly produced her first feature film THIS TOWN 2020 – which was released during COVID, but still managed to be number one at the NZ box office for several weeks. Kelly was on the SPADA board from 2012 -2020 (President from 2012-2016/2017) and President of WIFT for 4 years stepping down in 2019, however, she remains on the board of WIFT.