Profile

Michael is one of New Zealand’s leading actors and directors, having worked extensively across film, television and theatre for over 40 years. He and his wife Jennifer Ward-Lealand, are considered to be New Zealand's most powerful theatrical duo. Michael was already an accomplished theatre director before he began screen directing over 20 years ago. His earliest directing projects included Kiwi feature film Jubilee, which stars a young Cliff Curtis, and television satire Love Mussel. Since then, Michael has gone on to direct episodes of Westside, 800 Words and The Almighty Johnsons, as well as US series Ash vs Evil Dead. With countless awards under his belt, Michael is a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for his contributions to film and television, as well as the winner of an Art’s Laureate.
Location
Auckland, New Zealand
Social Links
Skills
After Dinner Speaker, Broadcaster, Celebrity, Compere/MC, Debator, Documentary, Field Presenter, Improvisor, Judge, Keynote Speaker, Live Performance Host, MC / Stage compere, Panellist, Singer, Speech Writer, Television
Career Biography
Director.
2021 | My Life is Murder (TV Series) - EP 2.09 "Wild Life" | Greenstone Pictures | |
2021 | My Life is Murder (TV Series) - EP 2.10 "Pleasure & Pain" | Greenstone Pictures | |
2021 | Mystic (TV Series) - EP 1.09 "The Secret" | CBBC, TVNZ | |
2021 | Mystic (TV Series) - EP 1.10 "The Discovery" | CBBC, TVNZ | |
2021 | Mystic (TV Series) - EP 1.11 "The Claim" | CBBC, TVNZ | |
2021 | Mystic (TV Series) - EP 1.12 "The Truth" | CBBC, TVNZ | |
2021 | Mystic (TV Series) - EP 1.13 "The Return" | CBBC, TVNZ | |
2021 | Power Rangers Dino Fury (TV Series) - EP 1.06 "Superstition Strikes" | Entertainment One, Netflix, Nickelodeon | |
2021 | Power Rangers Dino Fury (TV Series) - EP 1.07 "Stego Search" | Entertainment One, Netflix, Nickelodeon | |
2021 | Power Rangers Dino Fury (TV Series) - EP 1.08 "Unexpected Guest" | Entertainment One, Netflix, Nickelodeon | |
2021 | Power Rangers Dino Fury (TV Series) - EP 1.19 "The Makeover" | Entertainment One, Netflix, Nickelodeon | |
2021 | Power Rangers Dino Fury (TV Series) - EP 1.20 "Working Nightmares" | Entertainment One, Netflix, Nickelodeon | |
2021 | Power Rangers Dino Fury (TV Series) - EP 1.21 "Void Trap" | Entertainment One, Netflix, Nickelodeon | |
2020 | Between Two Worlds (TV Series) - EP 1.09 "The Leader and the Led" | Seven Network | |
2020 | Between Two Worlds (TV Series) - EP 1.10 "A Dog and a Man" | Seven Network | |
2019 | The Dead Lands (TV Series) - EP 1.5 "Generational Warfare" | General Film Corporation | |
2019 | The Dead Lands (TV Series) - EP 1.6 "A Question of Identity" | General Film Corporation | |
2019 | The Dead Lands (TV Series) - EP 1.7 "Broken Promises" | General Film Corporation | |
2019 | The Dead Lands (TV Series) - EP 1.8 "The Sacrifice of Innocence" | General Film Corporation | |
2019 | Westside (TV Series) - EP 5.05 | South Pacific Pictures | |
2019 | Westside (TV Series) - EP 5.06 | South Pacific Pictures | |
2019 | Westside (TV Series) - EP 5.09 | South Pacific Pictures | |
2019 | Westside (TV Series) - EP 5.10 | South Pacific Pictures | |
2018 | 800 Words (TV Series) - EP 3.12 | South Pacific Pictures/Seven Productions | |
2018 | Westside (TV Series) - EP 4.06 (co-director) | South Pacific Pictures/Seven Production | |
2018 | Westside (TV Series) - EP 4.08 | South Pacific Pictures/Seven Production | |
2018 | Westside (TV Series) - EP 4.10 | South Pacific Pictures/Seven Production | |
2017 | 800 Words (TV Series) - EP 3.03 | South Pacific Pictures/Seven Productions | |
2017 | 800 Words (TV Series) - EP 3.04 | South Pacific Pictures/Seven Productions | |
2017 | Westside (TV Series) - EP 3.07 | South Pacific Pictures/Seven Production | |
2017 | Westside (TV Series) - EP 3.08 | South Pacific Pictures/Seven Production | |
2016 | 800 Words (TV Series) - EP 2.03 | South Pacific Pictures/Seven Productions | |
2016 | 800 Words (TV Series) - EP 2.04 | South Pacific Pictures/Seven Productions | |
2016 | 800 Words (TV Series) - EP 2.09 | South Pacific Pictures/Seven Productions | |
2016 | 800 Words (TV Series) - EP 2.10 | South Pacific Pictures/Seven Productions | |
2016 | 800 Words (TV Series) - EP 2.13 | South Pacific Pictures/Seven Productions | |
2016 | Balloons (Short Film) | ||
2016 | Westside (TV Series) - EP 2.03 | South Pacific Pictures/Seven Production | |
2016 | Westside (TV Series) - EP 2.04 | South Pacific Pictures/Seven Production | |
2016 | Westside (TV Series) - EP 2.07 | South Pacific Pictures/Seven Production | |
2016 | Westside (TV Series) - EP 2.08 | South Pacific Pictures/Seven Production | |
2016 | Westside (TV Series) - EP 3.03 | South Pacific Pictures/Seven Production | |
2016 | Westside (TV Series) - EP 3.04 | South Pacific Pictures/Seven Production | |
2015 | Ash vs. Evil Dead (TV Series) - EP 1.06-1.07 | Starz/Renaissance Pictures | |
2015 | Step Dave (TV Series) - EP 2.12 "Kids" | South Pacific Pictures | |
2015 | Step Dave (TV Series) - EP 2.13 "Will You, Won't You" | South Pacific Pictures | |
2015 | Tatau (TV Series) - EP 1.06-1.07 | BBC/South Pacific Pictures | |
2014 | Step Dave (TV Series) - EP 1.05 "My Room" | South Pacific Pictures | |
2014 | Step Dave (TV Series) - EP 1.06 "Knocked Up Natalie" | South Pacific Pictures | |
2014 | Step Dave (TV Series) - EP 1.07 "Promise and Deliver" | South Pacific Pictures | |
2014 | The Brokenwood Mysteries (TV Series) - EP 1.03 "Playing the Lie" | South Pacific Pictures | |
2013 | The Almighty Johnsons (TV Series) - EP 3.07 "Typical Auckland God" | South Pacific Pictures | |
2013 | The Almighty Johnsons (TV Series) - EP 3.08 "The Asparagus is Kicking In" | South Pacific Pictures | |
2012 | Spartacus: War of the Damned (TV Series) - EP 3.04 "Decimation" | Starz Productions | |
2012 | Spartacus: War of the Damned (TV Series) - EP 3.09 "The Dead and the Dying" | Starz Productions | |
2011 | Spartacus: Vengeance (TV Series) - EP 2.01 "Fugitivus" | Starz Productions | |
2011 | Spartacus: Vengeance (TV Series) - EP 2.06 "Chosen Path" | Starz Productions | |
2010 | Legend of the Seeker - EP 2.17 "Vengeance | Disney/ABC Studios | |
2010 | Legend of the Seeker - EP 2.21 "Unbroken" | Disney/ABC Studios | |
2010 | Spartacus: Gods of the Arena (TV Series) - EP 3 "Paterfamilias" | Starz Productions | |
2009 | Legend of the Seeker - EP 1.22 "Reckoning" | Disney/ABC Studios | |
2009 | Legend of the Seeker - EP 2.02 "Baneling" | Disney/ABC Studios | |
2009 | Legend of the Seeker - EP 2.12 "Hunger" | Disney/ABC Studios | |
2009 | Spartacus (TV Series) - EP 1.12 "Revelations" | Starz Productions | |
2009 | Spartacus (TV Series) - EP 1.13 "Kill Them All" (splinter unit) | Starz Productions | |
2009 | Spartacus (TV Series) - EP 1.5 "Shadow Games" | Starz Productions | |
2009 | Spartacus (TV Series) - EP 1.9 "Whore" | Starz Productions | |
2008 | Legend of the Seeker - EP 1.08 "Denna" | Disney/ABC Studios | |
2008 | Legend of the Seeker - EP 1.10 "Sacrifice" | Disney/ABC Studios | |
2004 | Treasure Island Kids: The Monster of Treasure Island | Daybreak Pacific Films | |
2004 | Treasure Island Kids: The Mystery of Treasure Island | Daybreak Pacific Films | |
2001 | Love Mussel (TV Movie) | Frame Up Films | |
2001 | Xena: Warrior Princess (TV Series) - EP 6.15 "To Helicon and Back" | Renaissance Pictures | |
2000 | Jack of All Trades (TV Series) - EP 2.04 "The Morning After" | Renaissance Pictures | |
2000 | Jack of All Trades (TV Series) - EP 2.06 "One Two Three, Give Me Lady Liberty" | Renaissance Pictures | |
2000 | Jubilee | South Pacific Pictures | |
2000 | Xena: Warrior Princess (TV Series) - EP 5.16 "Life Blood" (Amazon High segments) | Renaissance Pictures | |
2000 | Xena: Warrior Princess (TV Series) - EP 5.18 "Antony and Cleopatra" | Renaissance Pictures | |
2000 | Xena: Warrior Princess (TV Series) - EP 6.04 "Who’s Gurkhan?" | Renaissance Pictures | |
1999 | Hercules: The Legendary Journeys (TV Series) - EP 5.15 "Greece is Burning" | Renaissance Pictures | |
1998 | Hercules: The Legendary Journeys (TV Series) - EP 4.17 "One Fowl Day" | Renaissance Pictures | |
1998 | Hercules: The Legendary Journeys (TV Series) - EP 5.01 "Faith" | Renaissance Pictures | |
1998 | Hercules: The Legendary Journeys (TV Series) - EP 5.07 "Somewhere Over the Rainbow Bridge" | Renaissance Pictures | |
1997 | Amazon High | Dir. Michael Hurst | |
1997 | Hercules: The Legendary Journeys (TV Series) - EP 4.08 ". . . And Fancy Free" | Renaissance Pictures | |
1997 | Xena: Warrior Princess (TV Series) - EP 2.15 "A Day in the Life" | Renaissance Pictures | |
1996 | Hercules: The Legendary Journeys (TV Series) - EP 3.01 "Mercenary" | Renaissance Pictures | |
1994 | I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry (Short Film) | Frame Up Films | |
1975 | A Silent Welcome (Short Film) | ||
1974 | The World Situation Today (Short Film) |