BLUE ANT MEDIA PARTNERS WITH NEW ZEALAND-BASED PRODUCER DAME JULIE CHRISTIE

Blue Ant Media and New Zealand-based unscripted producer, Dame Julie Christie announced a partnership that consists of Christie acquiring a majority stake, and assuming the role as CEO, in New Zealand-based, international factual production company, NHNZ, which has now been rebranded as NHNZ Worldwide. “NHNZ has achieved a great deal of success and is celebrated as one of the most respected natural history and factual production houses in the world. I’m very excited to now be a part of this company, has acquired a majority stake in NHNZ Worldwide,” said Dame Julie Christie, CEO, NHNZ Worldwide.

The production company will continue to be based in Dunedin and the producion company will continue to own NHNZ’s existing catalog of award-winning series and documentaries and a significant minority stake in NHNZ Worldwide. Sam Sniderman, Co-President, Global Content Production, Blue Ant Media has joined NHNZ Worldwide’s Board of Directors.   “I love the documentary and natural history genres, and while they will continue to be the backbone of our production business, I am excited to build a slate of projects in other categories, as we expand into other production hubs around the world,” Christie said.

Dame Julie Christie was the founder and creative force behind New Zealand’s Touchdown Productions, an international TV production company that sold unscripted formats to 30 countries, most notably The Chair, Miss Popularity, and Treasure Island. “Dame Julie is not only an internationally-successful, unscripted television producer but also an established and influential leader in New Zealand in both the public and private spheres,” said Sam Sniderman, Co-President, Global Content Production, Blue Ant Media. 

 The acquisition of a majority shareholding in NHNZ Worldwide marks her return to television production and the role of company CEO. A multi-award-winning producer, Julie was New Zealand’s 2008 Veuve Clicquot Businesswoman of The Year and in 2017 was made a Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to governance and television.

The company was sold to Eyeworks in 2006 after which she became CEO of Eyeworks New Zealand & Australia. Julie has also executive-produced three feature films: The Tattooist, LoveBirds, and Mr. Pip. Since 2013, she has served in numerous governance roles in media, sport, and economic development. “Her expertise and business acumen will serve NHNZ Worldwide well as she builds upon the production company’s 40-year legacy and paves the way to future growth,” Sniderman said.