13 Facts About Ainsley Gardiner

Ainsley Amohaere Gardiner is a film producer from New Zealand.

Ainsley Gardiner's mother is former MP Pauline Gardiner, and her father was a civil servant and politician, Wira Gardiner.

Ainsley Gardiner is of Te Whanau-a-Apanui, Ngati Pikiao, Te Whakatohea, Ngati Awa and Tuwharetoa ki Kawerau descent.

In 1995, Ainsley Gardiner completed the Avalon Film and TV production course, and went on to work with producer Larry Parr at Kahukura Productions.

Ainsley Gardiner began producing short films, and co-produced a 26-part series Lovebites.

Ainsley Gardiner received start-up funding from the New Zealand Film Commission.

Ainsley Gardiner worked with Curtis and Waititi to produce Tama Tu, Eagle vs Shark and the highly successful Boy, which set a new record for the highest grossing New Zealand film.

In 2007, Ainsley Gardiner began co-presenting Iti Pounamu, a Maori Television series showcasing New Zealand short films.

In 2009 Ainsley Gardiner wrote and directed Mokopuna, a short film about a part-Maori girl who struggles to embrace her roots; the film won the best short film award at the Canadian indigenous film festival Dreamspeakers.

In 2017, Ainsley Gardiner joined a team of women directors and writers to create the feature film Waru, which focuses on child abuse in New Zealand.

Ainsley Gardiner wrote and directed the segment titled "Mihi," which focused on the life of a single mother struggling to make end's meet.

Ainsley Gardiner describes her approach to filmmaking as collaborative and intuitive, in which community is at the center of both the production and development process.

Ainsley Gardiner has stated that Merata Meta has had a large influence on her life and career.