Paul Voigt and Donald Lawrie

Paul Voigt, Senior Investment Manager - Screen Production

Paul Voigt joined Investment New Zealand in 1999. Initially he co-ordinated work to maximise the investment benefits from major events around the millennium. These were the America’s Cup defence of 1999/2000 in Auckland, Asia Pacific Economic Conference 1999 in Auckland, and the Sydney Olympics in 2000.

Paul took up the position of investment manager screen production in 2000. He guides activities that promote New Zealand as a screen production location for feature film, television and television commercials to international filmmakers. Investment New Zealand also facilitates investment in infrastructure and film finance for the screen production industry.

He has also worked closely with several production houses to attract feature films to New Zealand. In particular, Investment New Zealand took the New Zealand government lead in the supporting New Zealand as the film location for The Lord of The Rings trilogy, The Last Samurai and Whale Rider.

Paul has been a member since 2001 of the Board of Trustees of Film New Zealand, New Zealand’s national film location office.

Background and expertise

Paul graduated from the University of Otago, New Zealand. He has over 25 years experience in international marketing and economic development. His career includes trade promotion, trade policy, competition policy and economic development, including Maori economic development.

Paul was consul general and trade commissioner in Vancouver from 1986 to 1991.

He has also worked as a private business consultant and taught international marketing at Auckland University on a part-time basis.

Donald Lawrie, Investment Manager - Screen production

Donald joined Investment New Zealand in August 2007 where he works to promote international investment in the feature film, television production, TVC and other digital content production and distribution industries. Investment New Zealand also facilitates investment in infrastructure and film finance for the screen production industry.

Background and expertise

Donald has over 16 years experience in the international media business based in Paris and London including international co-productions and distribution, digital content management and distribution systems including management of programming and content for digital cable, satellite, broadband, ADSL and IPTV services. Previous roles include positions at C&D (Paris), MTV Networks Europe, Telewest, BSkyB, France Telecom and EuroNews where he was Director of Worldwide Distribution prior to returning to New Zealand with his young family.

Donald speaks fluent French and has postgraduate degrees in Social Anthroplogy and Political Studies (Auckland) and Business Studies (Paris).