Greenstone Pictures laps up TV's Cream

<i>Coastwatch</i> changes hands. Photo / Supplied

When John Harris had the chance to buy Cream Media and some of New Zealand's best known TV programmes he jumped at it.

Now his company Greenstone Pictures is one of the biggest players in home-grown TV after the buyout was announced on Friday.

Greenstone, founded by Harris in 1994, is best known for Motorway Patrol, The Zoo, Neighbours at War, Epitaph and Serious Crash Unit.

Cream's programmes such as Dog Squad, Coastwatch, Border Patrol will come under the Greenstone umbrella.

Greenstone has also recruited Cream's production staff and its owner Nigel Snowden, who will be executive producer.

Snowden started his career at Greenstone.

Harris said the acquisition of Cream was an important strategic move.

"It doubles our current output and gives us an even stronger base from which to continue our growth into other territories," he said.

Greenstone has a presence in Australia, where it films Highway Patrol and CIU - Crash Investigation Unit for the Seven Network.

It has been selling programmes around the world for 10 years. Cream's shows also screen in Australia.

Greenstone will continue to be run by general manager Bryan Hall, financial controller Glenda Paterson, and production head Andrea Lamb.