The Directors and Editors Guild of Aotearoa New Zealand (DEGANZ) is a screen-sector

trade union A trade union (labor union in American English), often simply referred to as a union, is an organization of workers intent on "maintaining or improving the conditions of their employment", ch. I such as attaining better wages and benefits ...

that represents the interests of directors and

editors Editing is the process of selecting and preparing written, photographic, visual, audible, or cinematic material used by a person or an entity to convey a message or information. The editing process can involve correction, condensation, or ...

within New Zealand's screen and motion picture industry. Initially known as the Screen Directors Guild of New Zealand (SDGNZ), it was founded in 1995 when 18 New Zealand (NZ) directors gathered together at an annual industry conference in

Wellington Wellington ( mi, Te Whanganui-a-Tara or ) is the capital city of New Zealand. It is located at the south-western tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Remutaka Range. Wellington is the second-largest city in New Zealand by metr ...

to discuss directors' conditions of work and the need for an organization to represent their interests independent of the Screen Production and Development Association (SPADA), which had evolved from the original concept of a guild that represented both producers and directors.Official website
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Overview

The Directors and Editors Guild of Aotearoa New Zealand was previously a registered

Incorporated society In New Zealand, an incorporated society is a group of at least 15 people who have applied for registration under the ''Incorporated Societies Act 1908''. Once registered the Society constitutes a distinct legal entity In law, a legal person ...

. It seeks to maintain a forum where directors and editors can define, defend and further their professional industry. The Guild has a membership of approximately 200 directors and editors, many of whom are internationally recognized New Zealand Directors. Sir Peter Robert Jackson has been a member since 1999. Key initiatives and responsibilities of the Guild include lobbying for improved labour standards within the New Zealand screen and motion picture industry and the organization of training programs for Guild members to engage with directors/editors and mentors within the industry. DEGANZ also provides networking opportunities, legal advice, services and concessions, and immigration advice for its members and practitioners in the wider industry. The Guild was not always representative of

in New Zealand. However, in 2009 an emergence of editors identified the need for representation and were welcomed as members. DEGANZ operates from an office headquarters in

Auckland, New Zealand Auckland (pronounced ) ( mi, Tāmaki Makaurau) is a large metropolitan city in the North Island of New Zealand. The most populous urban area in the country and the fifth largest city in Oceania, Auckland has an urban population of about I ...

but hosts initiatives and events in other major cities around New Zealand.

Awards

Following the end of the

New Zealand Film and Television Awards New Zealand film and television awards have gone by many different names and have been organised by different industry groups. As of 2017, New Zealand has relaunched a standalone New Zealand Television Awards after a five-year hiatus. The film awar ...

(1986-2003), the SDGNZ created the New Zealand Screen Awards, an annual awards ceremony honouring the New Zealand film industry. The New Zealand Screen Awards ran from 2005-2007 before merging with the Qantas Television Awards in 2008 and were renamed the Qantas Film and Television Awards. These were subsequently renamed the

Aotearoa Film and Television Awards New Zealand film and television awards have gone by many different names and have been organised by different industry groups. As of 2017, New Zealand has relaunched a standalone New Zealand Television Awards after a five-year hiatus. The film awar ...

(AFTA) in 2011.Scoop
/ref> In 2012 the SDGNZ announced that, due to funding and resource restraints, it would not be involved with the AFTAs in 2012, nor would it run a separate film awards.

Publications

For a period of some years the Guild regularly published a quarterly magazine, Take, featuring news, interviews, events and humour of particular interest to the New Zealand screen and motion picture industry.Humanities Research
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Presidents of the Directors and Editors Guild of Aotearoa New Zealand

* Keith Hunter (1996–2000) * John Reid (2000–2003) * Dan Salmon (2003–2006) *

Annie Goldson Anne 'Annie' Veronica Goldson is a New Zealand journalism and film academic specialising in documentaries. Her films include Punitive Damage, Georgie Girl, Brother Number One and Kim Dotcom: ''Caught in the Web''. Career Goldson has a BSc fro ...

(2006–2009) * Peter Bell (2009–2013) * Peter Roberts (2013–2016) * Howard Taylor (2016–2021) * Robyn Paterson (2021-present)

References

External links

*{{Official website, http://www.degnz.co.nz Guilds in New Zealand Entertainment industry unions