Accolades roll in for film producer Ainsley Gardiner of Whakatane

Ainsley Gardiner has been made a Member of the Order of Merit for services to film and television. Photo / Supplied

In spite of the continual flow of accolades for Whakatane's Ainsley Gardiner, her focus remains very much on her work.

Gardiner (Ngāti Pikiao, Ngāti Awa, Te Whānau-A-Apanui) was awarded the 2018 Women in Film and Television Mana Wahine Award at the Wairoa Film Festival on Saturday.

Just two days later, she was made a Member of the Order of Merit for services to film and television as part of the Queen's Birthday 2018 Honours List.

And all the while her most recently produced film, The Breaker Upperers grossed more than $1 million at the Kiwi box office in its first two weeks. The movie opened on May 3 and sold out cinemas across the country, earning rave reviews from national and international viewers.

The Breaker Upperers is the first feature film from Jackie van Beek and Madeleine Sami, who wrote, directed and starred in the comedy.

Taika Waititi acted as executive producer while Gardiner and her Miss Conceptions business partner Georgina Conder teamed up with Carthew Neal of Hunt for the Wilderpeople production fame, to produce the film.

Of The Breaker Upperers, Gardiner says it's the type of comedy that strikes a chord with New Zealanders.

"It's a little bit silly and a little bit clever, but not too silly and not too clever."

The Breaker Upperers premiered at the SXSW Festival in Austin, Texas, in March and Gardiner said it was always going to be interesting seeing when, in the movie, Kiwis laughed as opposed to Americans.

"I think US audiences have a fast-food movie approach and laugh really easily as opposed to Kiwis who are more laid back. They sit back with their arms crossed and say that's kind of funny."

While her debut as a producer was with Brian Challis' 1998 short film The Hole, Gardiner is probably best known for her work on Waititi's short films Two Cars, One Night and Tama Tu, and feature films Eagle vs Shark and Boy.

Gardiner has produced eight further shorts, four acclaimed feature films including Fantail and The Pa Boys and programmes for television.

Last year she was one of eight Maori woman directors who produced Waru, a film about child abuse.

"I have to say I was actually really surprised when the invitation to accept the Queen's Birthday Honour arrived," Gardiner said.

"I had been involved in supporting a nomination for someone else so when mine arrived, it really was out of left field."

Gardiner said she did some research about the Honours process and eventually decided to accept it after acknowledging it would give what she and other women do, recognition and visibility.

"I came to the conclusion it was not about individual recognition but more about the community in which I work and about giving visibility to that community.

"To be recognised at that level in an industry where I'm still climbing the mountain is definitely an honour, that level of recognition generally comes once you have reached the top."

Gardiner said it also made family proud.

"While they are always proud, awards like this are very exciting for your mother and your father.

"While these accolades are incredible, I try not to get too distracted by the things that go on outside my work.

"If I put a high level energy into my films I can do bigger and better things for others."