Mataku leads New Zealand television awards nominations

Mataku, the series based on Maori ghost stories and tales of the supernatural leads this year's New Zealand television award nominations.

The performers and makers of the show's 13 episodes which screened on TV3 last year earned 14 nominations in the AFTAs (Academy of Film and Television Arts) which were announced in Auckland yesterday.

It leads the field, ahead of the more conventional dramas Mercy Peak (with 11 nominations), The Strip (10) and Street Legal (9).

Among Mataku's nominees were Cherie James - daughter of late great comedian Billy T James - who is up for best actress for her performance in the first episode entitled The Blue Line: Kahurangi.

James is up against Sara Wiseman of Mercy Peak and Kathrine Kennard of Street Legal in her category. The best actor nods went to Jeffrey Thomas (Mercy Peak), Robbie Magasiva (The Strip) and Jay Laga'aia (Street Legal).

In the comedy area, Spin Doctors earned five nominations, though the competition in the category was hardly tough - even the much-maligned Love Bites managed two nominations and much of the comedy programme show and performance divisions are filled with stand-up shows like Laugh Festival specials and Pulp Comedy.

Best presenter nods went to perennial nominees, TV One newsreader Judy Bailey and weatherman Jim Hickey and to TV3's John Campbell. The winner will be decided by public vote who also have a chance to decide on "best new programme" out of Unsolved, The Strip and the Charlottle Dawson-fronted agony aunt panel show How's Life.

Among the documentaries, Gang Girls led the field with three nominations for its look at women inside the Mongrel Mob and Black Power. In the best doco category it's main competition would seem to be No Mean Feet - a profile of amputee mountaineer and cyclist Mark Inglis captured as he climbed Mount Cook with prosthetic limbs. While another prominent documentary in the nominations is The Lost Dinosaurs of New Zealand, the study on palaeontologist Dr Joan Wiffen's discoveries earning nods in the best director and best narration script categories.

The awards will be presented in Auckland on Friday August 22.

The AFTA nominations in full

Best documetary: Gang Girls, No Mean Feet, Tokyo Bros

Best episode, drama series or serial: Mataku, Mercy Peak, Street Legal

Best drama series or serial: Mataku, Mercy Peak, Street Legal

Best entertainment programme: Coca Cola Christmas in the Park, Spin Doctors Election Special, Westfield Style Pasifika

Best entertainment series: Game of Two Halves, Mo Show, The Chair

Best documentary series: 2050 - What if New Zealand Became A State of Australia?, American Highway, Smith-Brown.

Best factual series: Country Calendar, Kids Hospital, Queer Nation

Best lifestyle series: Maggie's Garden Show, Mucking In, The Living Room

Best comedy programme: Big Comedy Gala 2002, Billy T Awards 2002, Pulp Comedy - The Series, Spin Doctors series 3

Best sports programme: Yellow Ribbon Fight for Life, Shell Helix Motorsport - NZ V8 Round, Wellington Rugby Sevens

Best Maori programme: Syd Jackson - The Life & Times of a Maori Activist, Tama to Tama Ora, The Last Laugh

Best Maori language programme: Nag Morehu - End of an Era, Sciascia, Waka Huia - Hinerupe

Best new programme (people's choice): Unsolved, The Strip series 1, How's Life

Best supporting actress: Alison Bruce (Mercy Peak), Annie Whittle (Shortland Street), Jodie Rimmer (The Strip Series I)

Best supporting actor: Joel Tobeck (Mercy Peak), Craig Parker (Mercy Peak), Charles Mesure (Street Legal)

Best actor: Jeffrey Thomas (Mercy Peak), Robbie Magasiva (The Strip series 1) Jay Laga'aia (Street Legal)

Best supporting actress: Alison Bruce (Mercy Peak), Craig Parker (Mercy Peak), Charles Mesure (Street Legal)

Best juvenile actor/actress: Dominique Crawford (Mataku), Anna Hutchison (Shortland Street), Renee Elwood (The Strip series 1)

Best comedy performance: Ewen Gilmour (Pulp Comedy Special: Ewen Gilmour), John Sumner (Spin Doctors series 3), Elizabeth Hawthorne (Spin Doctors 3)

Best presenter: Judy Bailey, Jim Hickey, John Campbell

Best script, single episode of a drama series or serial: Mataku (Vanessa Rare); Mataku (Carey Carter); The Strip Series 1 (Paul Boock & Kathryn Burnett)

Best script, comedy: Love Bites Episode 14 (David Brechin-Smith); Spin Doctors Series 3 (Roger Hall, James Griffin, Dave Armstrong; Willy Nilly (Ken Duncum, Mike Smith, Paul Yates & Cal Wilson); Love Bites Episode 11 (David Brechin-Smith)

Best narration script, non-Drama: The Lost Dinosaurs of New Zealand (Bryan Bruce & Ian Johnstone); Mercury Lane - Forever Young (Colin Hogg & Michelle Bracey); Mercury Lane - When the Eye Begins to See (Colin Hogg); The Zoo series 4 (Colin Hogg & Marie Quinn)

Best director, drama: Peter Burger (Mataku); Peter Sharp (Mercy Peak); Chris Bailey (Street Legal)

Best director, documentary: Dan Salmon (2050 - What if Maori Gain Sovereignty, Tino Rangitiratanga?); Paula Jones & John Bates (Gang Girls); Bryan Bruce (The Lost Dinosaurs of New Zealand)

Best director, factual/entertainment programme: Mark Albiston (The Living Room); Mike Ritchie (What Now?)

Best camera, drama: Paul Samuels (Mataku); Rewa Harre (Mataku); Fred Renata (Street Legal)

Best camera, non-drama: Nick Finlayson (2050 What if New Zealand Becomes a State of Autralia?); Peter Young (Chasing Giants - On the Trail for Giant Squid); Rewa Harre Mercury Lane Series 1)

Best editing, drama: Allannah Milne (Mataku); Nicola Smith (Mercy Peak); Paul Sutorius & Owen Ferrier-Kerr (The Strip Series 1); Bryan Shaw (Street Legal)

Best editing, non-drama: Bryan Shaw (2050 What if New Zealand Becomes a State of Australia?); Irena Dol (Gang Girls); Roger Yeaxlee (No Mean Feet)

Best Original Music: Rockwood (American Highway); Felicity Williams (The Dress Up Box - String Thing); Don McGlashan (Street Legal)

Best contribution to a soundtrack: Lloyd Canham & Nick Burton (Mataku); Melanie Graham (The Strip Series 1); Haresh Bhana (Shell Helix Motor Sport - NZ V8 Round)

Best production design: David Turner (Shortland Street); Gary MacKay (The Strip Series 1); Brett Schwieters (Mercy Peak); Miro Harre (Mataku)

Best costume design: Karol London (The Dress Up Box); Louise Davis (Mataku); Sarah Voon (Mercy Peak); Nic Smillie (The Strip Series 1)

Best contribution to design: Catriona Campbell (Willy Nilly); Ker Clark (The Dress Up Box); Nigel Streeter, Dave Gibson & Richard Moore (The Strip Series 1); Gabrielle Jones & Mark Knight (Mataku)