About Us

Julia Parnell

Co-Founder – Producer /Mentor

Julia Parnell has dedicated over two decades to the art of documentary storytelling and mentoring creatives. An award-winning producer and documentary director, she has directed and produced hundreds of hours of content, including feature films, primetime series, one-off documentaries and podcasts. An empathetic and visual storyteller, Julia has received local and international acclaim for directing powerful stories with emotional depth. Through nine seasons of Loading Docs Julia has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to supporting emerging documentary makers.

Combining documentary sensibilities with an absolute focus on audiences, Julia creates ambitious and meaningful stories that are both commercial and authentic. Her most recent feature film ‘SIX60: Till the Lights Go Out’ achieved a place in the top ten highest-grossing NZ box office documentaries of all time.  Well known for her social justice and cultural diversity documentaries (Relocated Mountains, Drug Court, Restoring Hope, Arranged and Both Worlds), Julia has also cemented her place as New Zealand’s most prominent creator of music documentaries (SIX60, The Chills: The Triumph and Tragedy of Martin Phillipps, Anthems: New Zealand’s Iconic Hits, Exponents, Dragon and New Sound of Country).

Kay Ellmers

Pou Māori Executive Producer / Mentor

Kay Ellmers (Ngāti Tamateraa/Ngāti Raukawa) is an award-winning documentary maker who has produced and/or directed more than twenty documentaries, with a focus on contemporary social issues and Kaupapa Māori projects. Kay works across many projects with emerging talent and is dedicated to fostering the health of the Aotearoa screen industry.

Kawiti Waetford

Pou Tiaki Reo Māori

Raised in Kōhanga Reo and Kura Kaupapa Māori, Kawiti Waetford (Ngāti Hine, Ngātiwai, Ngāpuhi) is a first-language speaker of te reo Māori. A registered translator and interpreter through Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori, Kawiti is actively involved in the education and mentorship of young Māori, using his unique linguistic and musical skills as a trained opera singer, performer and vocal coach. As a consultant in te reo, tikanga and te ao Māori, he works with businesses, NGO and local government to both expand the use of te reo Māori into new domains, and to ensure that this integration is done correctly and appropriately.

Christopher Connolly

Programme Manager

Christopher Connolly has been part of the arts industry for a decade across film, music, visual art and dance. Following a move to New Zealand, Christopher joined Notable Pictures boutique production company as the Marketing Manager on feature films ‘SIX60: Till the Lights Go Out’ and ‘The Chills: The Triumph & Tragedy of Martin Phillipps’ alongside managing the Loading Docs marketing.

Nia Phipps

Producer

With over two decades experience in the screen industry Nia has, in recent years, focussed her production skills in documentary as a creative producer/impact producer. Previously, Nia joined Loading Docs in the early years to support the initiative before leaving to produce her own works, notably including feature documentary High Tide Don’t Hide, an award winning film created with The Rebel Film Collective which is still enjoying a long-tail festival run with the Human Rights Film Tour, hosted by the United Nations High Commissioner throughout Africa and Europe. Most recently her 3 years as a Talent Development Executive at the New Zealand Film Commission has honed her commitment to deeply supporting and developing talent across the screen sector.

Juliette Veber

Mentor

Juliette Veber has 25 years of experience working in the film and documentary industry. She was the Producer of Loading Docs for four years, spent six years at the New Zealand Film Commission as Short Film Sales and Marketing Manager and one year running the South Shorts mentorship programme for Script to Screen. A documentary maker in her own right, Juliette conceived and helmed the award-winning feature film Trouble is My Business and the interactive documentary series Conversations with Teen Mums. Juliette brings a passion for nurturing storytellers to reach their full potential while ensuring promising projects evolve from good ideas to critically acclaimed films.

Tuki Laumea

Mentor

Tuki Laumea is an international award-winning filmmaker who has spent 15+ years making documentaries all over the world. Tuki spent many years crafting documentaries in the Middle East, Africa and Europe for Al Jazeera English. Many accolades he has received include the Robert F. Kennedy Award for Journalism, two Monte Carlo Cine Golden Eagles, an Amnesty International award and a BAFTA nomination.

Parehuia Mackay

Producer / Pou Māori

Parehuia Mackay (Ngāti Toa Rangatira, Ngāti Tamateraa, Ngāti Raukawa) is a creative who has worked in traditional and digital media spaces in several capacities. Her documentary credits include series Whānau, reo Māori digital series Ohinga and is currently working on the well-known series Waiata Anthems. She has a passion for storytelling to create positive change. She celebrates diversity and authenticity in all her work and tries to find new and creative ways to share people’s stories.

Anna Jackson

Co-Founder and Consulting Producer

Anna Jackson is a Senior Lecturer in the interdisciplinary Design Thinking programme in the School of Art and Design. Previously she has taught in Creative Technologies at AUT’s Colab and led co-design and social innovation projects at Innovate Change (now Innovation Unit). She is passionate about New Zealand documentary and the future of storytelling.