IAN HART
Director
Ian is a leading Documentary Director originally from the Waikato in New Zealand, he is now based in West Yorkshire, UK.
He has established a career as a leading post director on some of the most talked about documentaries playing internationally. He wrote and post directed episodes of the Netflix original series Dark Tourist before moving on to three seasons of Emmy award-winning, Formula 1: Drive to Survive.
Creator and Series Director of Discovery THREE’s critically acclaimed observational docu-series Taranaki Hard, Ian also wrote and post-directed Channel 4 UK’s hit The Great Amazon Heist with Oobah Butler, the BBC series Ashley Cain: Into The Danger Zone and The Guardian 4 star reviewed series Cancer Detectives.
As a commercial creative producer he has led numerous campaigns and branded documentary content for clients such as Audi, National Geographic, Glenmorangie, Müller and Hyundai.
Ian is also an award-winning animation music video director, winning best director at the New Zealand Music Awards for his work on The Brunettes’ music video Her Hairagami Set.
He has served as a judge for The Emmy Awards from 2021-2024 on the Sports Documentary, Documentary Feature and Documentary Series category panels.
Currently he is working as Series Director on a yet to be announced project due to be completed late 2027.
Ian is based in Manchester.
JUSTIN HAWKES
Director
Justin is an award-winning documentary director and editor. His storytelling is visceral, emotionally charged, and often laced with unexpected humour - a style that has made him a standout in New Zealand’s documentary landscape and an emerging international voice.
Justin was one of two directors on Dark Tourist, Netflix’s first original commission out of Aotearoa, and is the creator and director of the hit Patrick Gower: On series for Warner Bros. Discovery NZ - a mainstay of New Zealand’s prime-time factual programming. In 2024, his documentary Live and Let Dai, following comedian Dai Henwood’s private battle with terminal cancer, became a critical and cultural phenomenon for its raw honesty and emotional punch. His latest project, Stalked, follows the harrowing stories of three stalking victims.
He has won Best Director (Factual) and twice Best Editor at the New Zealand Television Awards. His two documentaries Live and Let Dai and Patrick Gower: On Ice were finalists at the NZTV awards last year. He has also dabble in commerical directing, making the hugely successul ‘That’s how we Maccas’ campaign for McDonalds.
Justin’s style blends cinematic visuals, narrative urgency, and emotional access, whether he’s working on a Netflix original, a national broadcaster series, or commercial campaigns for brands like McDonald’s.
Justin is based in Auckland (and sometimes Sofia).
CHARLOTTE HOBSON
Producer
Charlotte is an award-winning producer and a trusted force in television and documentary production. She has headed some of the biggest and most popular formats in New Zealand, from Family Feud to Dancing with the Stars. In 2017 she produced the groundbreaking documentary series What Next?, hosted by John Campbell and Nigel Latta. Charlotte produced Taranaki Hard.
Charlotte is based in Perth.
HAYLEY CUNNINGHAM
Producer
Hayley’s extensive CV includes both factual and reality formats in New Zealand and across the globe.
She produced the first series of the award-winning comedy The Jaquie Brown Diaries, before moving into reality formats as a producer on multiple incarnations of The Amazing Race, including the International Emmy-winning Australian version. Series Producer of The X Factor NZ for Three, she then went on to Executive Produce The Real Housewives of Auckland and 2019's Best Format Reality Series, Dancing with the Stars NZ for three seasons.
Hayley has spent the last four years at MediaWorks, starting as the Head of Development, before stepping into the role of Senior Network Executive, responsible for three seasons of Married At First Sight NZ, and Patrick Gower: On. Hayley is also head of unscripted at South Pacific Pictures.
Hayley received an International Emmy® for her work on The Amazing Race, and has won multiple New Zealand Television Awards for her projects.
Hayley is based in Auckland.