Following extensive television broadcasting and academic careers in South Africa, Kobus relocated to New Zealand in 2008.  Positions in news and current affairs at the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) included news bulletin editor, features editor, executive producer of the breakfast show Good Morning South Africa (GMSA) and later programme manager of GMSA and the magazine programme 6-on-1.  A freelance career in corporate, promotional and educational video productions followed after leaving the SABC.

Extended freelancing in media production (print and electronic), marketing, advertising and corporate communications provided an appreciation of how effective media synergy can be in communication. 

Kobus holds a master’s degree in International Politics (University of Pretoria, South Africa).  Current research and personal development interests involve Media Industry (broadcasting/production trends and media ethics, media law and media landscape); Cinematography (history, CGI and production trends); Media Education and Skills Training; Photojournalism; and Creative Writing.

Academic teaching positions at tertiary institutions in South Africa and New Zealand have included Journalism (television, radio and print news production), Advertising, Public Relations and Political Science. 

Before moving to New Zealand Kobus was package organiser and lecturer of the BA Languages degree (Specialising in Journalism) at the University of Pretoria, South Africa.  He joined South Seas in 2010, following two years as Coordinator, Journalism and Creative Writing at Waiariki Institute of Technology in Rotorua.


Jenny Stark - TV Production Tutor
Jenny joined TVNZ Dunedin in 1981 as Producer’s Assistant on a variety of programmes such as ‘Spot On,’ and ‘World of Sport’ and then joined the The Natural History Unit as Production Manager on ‘Wild South’ documentaries such as Kakapo and Yellow Eyed Penguin.

After graduating from South Seas in 1999, Ben worked in the industry for more than ten years before returning for his latest stint as tutor in the CLA department.

During Ben’s career he has worked professionally in all major areas of camera, lighting and audio.  He has worked on feature films, television series, commercials, music videos, corporate videos, short films, reality shows, news and sports. 

Keeping up to date with developments in technology is one of Ben’s major challenges as a tutor.  He aims to keep the students informed about all the recent advances, while also ensuring they are familiar with any older technology they may encounter in the course of their work.

Ben is continuing to work in the film and television industry while tutoring at South Seas – a combination that means he is always improving his own skills and knowledge so he can give the best training to his students. 

 

Jon Kirk - Post Production Tutor

After graduating from South Seas in 1997, Jon ‘s first job in the industry was as a staff editor at Prime TV when it was launched in NZ. "This proved to be a challenge as they were literally building the facility around us as we cut the sports show".

From there, he has enjoyed a successful freelance career in NZ and the UK, working on a variety of forms of television including a travel documentary presented by Jackie Chan, a golf series with Tim Brooke-Taylor to observational documentaries with the NZ police to name a few. He has worked with various productions companies including Greenstone Pictures , Cream TV and Endemol UK.

 Jon, a trained teacher, joins South Seas in 2011 bringing with him a wealth of industry experience, technical knowledge combining with his teaching experience to ensure this year’s graduates enter the work force fully prepared.

Paula Jones - Documentary Development Tutor & Curriculum Advisor

Allie Simpson - Art Department Tutor

 Allie is a qualified Adult Tutor and Assessor with a certificate in Commercial Art.  She began her career in 1995 working in the art department on quick turn around television productions and commercials. She also worked on such productions as Shortland Street and Sale of the Century, comedy productions and mainstream commercials.

Allie runs her own design business and has designed product launches, national campaigns and live shows for corporate clients including New Zealand Lotteries Commission and L’Oreal New Zealand.

In conjunction with her television career she has taught to diploma level in subjects including design for special effects and conceptual design, holding the position of Head of Department for Special Effects Make Up and Production Make Up.

Allie joined SouthSeas in 2003 to establish and run the Art Department.

 

Haare Williams - Mahi a Rongo Leader
Coming out of teaching and into the radio broadcasting, television news and current affairs arena, Haare Williams pioneered Maori Radio as the General Manager of Aotearoa Radio.

He has worked closely with iwi claimant communities collecting and preparing oral testimonies for presentation before the Waitangi Tribunal and this in turn led to his work as a facilitator in oral histories working with iwi groups and for NZ Libraries.

Haare has published his poetry, was a judge for the Watties Book Awards, and has held five solo art exhibitions. He has worked with the former Race Relations Office to deal with issues of cultural sensitivity, was a two-term city councillor in Papakura and a member of the Board of Governors for Queen Victoria School.

He was an Executive Director of the New Zealand 1990 Commission especially responsible for waka construction and assembly at Waitangi in 1990, and is currently the Chairperson of ProMa, the Maori advisory committee to ProCare.

For five years, Haare held the position of Pae Arahi, "The first in the country," as he put it, at Auckland’s UNITEC. Now an independent consultant in Maori aspects of education, health, business, art and the media, he is the Course Leader of South Seas' Mahi a Rongo – Maori Film & Television Broadcasting course and South Seas Kaumatua.


Mike Westgate - Industry Workshop Tutor
Mike is one of New Zealand’s most experienced sound recordists and has worked on a multitude of Kiwi feature films, television documentaries, dramas and commercials.

His credits include Smash Palace, Angel Mine, Starlight Hotel, Soldier’s Tale, Quiet Earth plus more than 60 documentary credits for major TV networks including CBS, NBC, PBS, and the BBC.

He has worked on eight expeditions for The Cousteau Society filmed in New Guinea, Indonesia, Australia, Thailand, Laos, Burma and Cambodia. In recent years, Mike has serviced a large volume of episodic drama shot in New Zealand for North American productions totalling 193 episodes which include 80 episodes of Hercules - The Legendary Journeys.

Mike has been at the forefront of developing the New Zealand use of the latest overseas advances in audio recording technology especially in the field of digital recording techniques, and is the Technical Manager of Sound Techniques; New Zealand’s only dedicated supplier of equipment for the film and television industry.

He has taught both the theoretical and practical aspects of audio recording techniques for numerous courses including Unitec, The ITVA and The Moving Image Centre. Armed with videos of productions that he has serviced, plus an array of sound equipment, he has lectured at South Seas since 1995.


Andrew Denton - Camera, Lighting & Audio Assist

Andrew Denton has been working in the industry for several years as an all-rounder from camera work, to being a great asset in the art department. He's been with South Seas in several projects and now has joined us full time. Helping out with the South Seas new building Units and keeping the infrastructures up and running.

Andrew also works in the Camera, Lighting & Audio department in the Film & Television course, assisting the CLA Tutor and the students with the equipment.