We are a leading multi-genre Film & TV production company that thrives on creating strong ideas we believe in.

Chief Executive Officer

Philip Smith

Philip Smith is the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Creative Officer of Great Southern Television, the award-winning production company he founded in 2002. A globally recognised creator, writer, and producer, Philip has driven GSTV’s rise to become one of New Zealand’s most successful international drama and factual producers.

He has created or produced more than 70 television series across New Zealand, Australia, the USA, and the UK, including the AMC drama Lone Lane Bridge, the Netflix series The Casketeers, and the BBC1 series Coast Australia and Coast New Zealand. He also created The Pretender, The Cult, Agent Anna, Why Does Love, The Kick, and One Lane Bridge.

Philip was named New Zealand Drama Writer of the Year in 2018 and is a Logie finalist in Australia. He has won 33 New Zealand Film and Television Awards.

As CEO, Philip leads GSTV’s creative and commercial vision, international partnerships, strategic growth, and global expansion into scripted, factual, and format-based programming. Under his leadership, the company has strengthened its international footprint, prioritised co-productions, and expanded its catalogue of premium IP for global platforms such as the BBC, Netflix, ITV, and AMC.

Head of Drama

Kathleen Anderson

Kathleen Anderson is a seasoned television producer and executive. With a rich career spanning over two decades, Kathleen has become a prominent figure in the New Zealand media industry. Before joining GSTV in 2020, she honed her skills at Te Reo Tātaki (Television New Zealand) as Head of Scripted, where she contributed to numerous award winning productions, including popular series' Go Girls, Wellington Paranormal, In Dark Places, Ablaze, Baby Mama’s Club, and the international co-production, The Luminaries. At Great Southern, Kathleen's credits include One Lane Bridge, Spinal Destination, n00b and the critically acclaimed psychological thriller, Friends Like Her.

Chief Financial Officer

Vicky Maples

Vicky manages the Corporate and Production Finance department. She also manages, develops and implements the financial systems for Great Southern Television. Vicky has a strong background in Project Accounting. Prior to joining GSTV, she spent 10 years in the Advertising Industry.

Senior Indigenous Producer

Rewa Harriman

Rewa Harriman is the Senior Indigenous Producer at Great Southern Television, bringing deep cultural grounding, editorial strength, and a powerful storytelling instinct to GSTV’s Māori and Indigenous work. She is a key force behind The Hui, New Zealand’s leading Māori current-affairs programme, where her leadership, care and precision have helped the series become one of the most respected voices in national journalism.

Rewa’s approach to storytelling is shaped by an extraordinary upbringing. Raised by her father Ruka Hudson—a Vietnam veteran who lost both legs to a landmine but went on to raise five children on his own—Rewa grew up surrounded by resilience, discipline, humour, and fierce love. His belief that “life is only as hard as you make it” continues to guide her work and her commitment to kaupapa Māori journalism. His passion for language, art, and culture also laid the foundation for Rewa’s lifelong connection to te ao Māori.

A talented tennis player from a young age, Rewa trained intensively with her father and became a professional athlete at 16, competing internationally—including at Wimbledon. She later retired from tennis to pursue te reo Māori and storytelling, the path that would ultimately lead her into journalism and television. Rewa’s work spans reporting, producing, Indigenous development, and mentoring emerging Māori journalists. At GSTV, she ensures tikanga-based practices guide productions and that Māori voices are authentically represented across both factual and drama. Renowned for her empathy, integrity, and editorial courage, Rewa is committed to elevating Indigenous perspectives and bringing stories of truth, identity, and whānau to audiences across Aotearoa.

Head of Production / Line Producer

Cass Donaldson

Cass has worked in the film and television industry since the early 90’s, both in New Zealand and the United States. An award-winning producer, he has worked on a wide variety of projects, from Hollywood features to large scale reality shows to smaller documentaries. Cass acts as a Line Producer on Great Southern’s unscripted and reality projects and manages the Operations side of the company.

Factual Development Executive

Harry Wynn

Harry Wynn is a filmmaker and factual development executive whose work spans documentary, television, and digital platforms. His storytelling is driven by a curiosity about identity, politics, culture, and belonging—finding the human pulse inside complex social issues and translating it into bold, accessible screen narratives.

Harry wrote and directed the landmark documentary series Queer Aotearoa: We’ve Always Been Here (TVNZ/TVNZ+, 2025), a millennial-lens exploration of New Zealand’s LGBTQ+ history that blends archive, contemporary voices, and incisive cultural commentary. His directing work also includes Shred (2022), Young & Hooked on Chemsex (2021), and Three Ticks Chlöe (2020).

As a producer, Harry’s credits include Out There (Loading Docs) and the NZ Film Commission–funded Fresh Shorts film Rice Run. At Great Southern Television, Harry brings this depth of storytelling experience to the development of GSTV’s factual slate. He works across documentary, premium factual, and character-led series, shaping new ideas from concept to pitch and identifying stories that speak directly to contemporary Aotearoa while resonating with global audiences.

Development Executive

Victoria Boult

Victoria Boult, Ngai Tahu, is a major rising star in the local and international drama landscape. Victoria wrote and directed her first commissioned television series for Warner Brothers Discovery, entitled nOOb. As a development executive at GSTV and Graduate of Bachelor of Arts in Film Studies and English Literature (Hons I) at the University of Sydney, her responsibilities include supporting the ideation, development and production of all unscripted, factual and drama series at GSTV.

Head of Indigenous Development

Annabelle Lee-Mather

Annabelle Lee-Mather (Ngāi Tahu, Kāti Māmoe, Ngāti Kahungnunu) is a multi award-winning television-maker who has worked in programming for more than two decades. She is the creator and an executive producer of the Netflix acquired series The Casketeers and was the executive producer of Three’s acclaimed current affairs series The Hui for 7 seasons. As part of her role at Great Southern, Annabelle oversees all aspects of indigenous storytelling.

Accounts Executive

Blake Williams

Blake is the oil in the financial department machine, running support to our CFO Vicky Maples. Since joining GSTV, Blake has contributed to the accounting and financial management of several major drama productions, including the BBC co-production The Ridge. Blake also helps oversee the company’s busy factual slate, working behind the scenes on all budgeting and cost reporting. He works closely with the CEO and plays a key role in upholding the company’s financial governance. An invaluable member of the team, Blake rolls up his sleeves and gets every job done at GSTV – even if it doesn’t always involve numbers. He holds a degree in Finance and Philosophy, Politics and Economics from the University of Otago.