Ka pai to Warner Bros. International Television Production New Zealand for their 2023 Diversity Works Diverse Talent Award.
The Award recognises organisations that attract and develop talent from underrepresented groups. Warner Bros. ITVP won the small-medium organisation category, receiving the award for its Square One programme, which offers pathways for young Māori and Pasifika people into Warner Bros. ITVP and the screen industry.
Warner Bros. ITVP designed the Square One programme to intentionally remove barriers that make it hard for young Māori and Pasifika people to get into the screen industry. To make sure that young people’s lived experience was front and centre, Warner Bros. ITVP invited rangatahi already working at Warner Bros. ITVP to be part of the team designing and leading the programme.
From the 16-strong workshop, four rangatahi were chosen for paid roles on Warner Bros. ITVP productions, with mentoring and support provided by experienced crew, to support the new recruits’ success. Since then, these rangatahi and others from the wider group of applicants have gone on to secure work in the industry - for Warner Bros. ITVP, other production companies and a broadcaster.