Veteran New Zealand producer John Barnett, a driving force in the nation’s film and television industry, has died.
Beginning his career in 1973, Barnett led South Pacific Pictures for over two decades and later founded Endeavour Ventures.
He produced or executive produced four of New Zealand’s top-grossing films, including Whale Rider, Footrot Flats, Sione’s Wedding, and What Becomes of the Broken Hearted?.
Honoured as a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2019, Barnett is remembered for championing Māori, Pacific, and Asian storytelling, and for launching New Zealand’s first art house film channel. He described Whale Rider, which achieved global acclaim and Oscar recognition, as one of his proudest achievements.
