Mr John Barnett, CNZM, for services to film and television
John Barnett has produced some of New Zealand’s most popular films, including ‘Whale Rider’ and ‘Sione’s Wedding’, through his company Endeavour Ventures. He owned and ran South Pacific Pictures, New Zealand’s largest television and film production company, for 23 years, overseeing production of television shows including ‘Shortland Street’ and ‘Outrageous Fortune’ and championing projects that spoke of New Zealand’s Māori, Pacific and Asian population. He established the Sundance Channel (now Rialto), New Zealand’s first arthouse film channel. He served on the Board of the New Zealand Film Commission, and was a member of the New Zealand Screen Council and the Auckland Museum Foundation. Mr Barnett is a Trustee of the New Zealand Film Heritage Trust, the Auckland Hospital Charitable Trust, Auckland Health Foundation, and Te Urungi o Ngati Kuri.