Janine Morrell-Gunn (Ngāti Kahungungu)
Executive Producer Janine Morrell-Gunn has been awarded the Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to children’s television and as an advocate for young people.
Ms Morrell-Gunn (Ngāti Kahungungu) has created and produced many television programmes over 35 years which have given a voice to the children of New Zealand. She is the co-founder of Christchurch-based WhitebaitMedia studios and facilities, and since 1998, WhitebaitMedia has produced more than 6000 hours of homegrown content for Kiwi kids.
For the past 18 years, WhitebaitMedia have been the kaitiaki of iconic children’s show What Now, now in its 42nd year, and has produce numerous popular children’s television shows for multiple generations, including The Son of a Gunn Show, The Erin Simpson Show, Tuhono, Bumble, and 2Kaha.
She was TVNZ’s Executive Producer of Children’s Productions between 1985 and 1998 and has served on the Board of Women in Film and Television and the Screen Producers Guild.
She has been Chair of the Cholmondeley Children’s Centre since 2015, which provides planned and emergency respite accommodation and care for children aged three to 12.
Ms Morrell-Gunn initiated Adopt-A-Chch Family, raising more than $1 million, and erected The White Lights of Hope following the Canterbury Earthquakes.
AWARDS
New Zealand Television Awards, Television Legend, 2022 New Zealand On Air Award, Services to Children Women In Film and Television, Entrepreneur of the Year, 2009
- John Spurdle
