Award-winning film-maker switches to radio

The challenge of working in a different medium has led Alison Ballance, an award-winning producer and director with NHNZ, to accept a position with Radio New Zealand.

Ms Ballance (47) finished work at the Dunedin-based documentary production company yesterday, before heading to Wellington as a producer for the show Our Changing World.

"I am looking forward to the challenge of working in a different medium," she said.

With a masters degree in zoology, Ms Ballance joined NHNZ as a researcher about 18 years ago, after working with the then Department of Scientific and Industrial Research in Wellington.

During her time with the company, she has worked on documentaries including To Save the Kakapo, which won a merit award at the Missoula Wildlife Film Festival, and Power to the Ocean, which won a gold medal at the New York Film Festival.

Her interest in storytelling has not been limited to television. She has 27 natural history books to her credit, often produced in collaboration with photographer Rod Morris.

"He brings the beautiful pictures and I bring the words."

During her time at NHNZ, she has shot in many locations, including Mongolia and the Galapagos Islands - overseas travel which she said would be hard to leave behind.

"I have had some wonderful experiences with NHNZ, but I am excited by this new challenge."

Required to co-produce four 12-minute radio items, Ms Ballance has already begun recording for Our Changing World, which focuses on science, environment and health.

"New Zealand is full of interesting stories and interesting people, so I am looking forward to covering those topics."