Summer Wharekawa (New Zealand)
Head of Commissioning
TVNZ

Summer Wharekawa (Ngāti Tahu, Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Ngāti Maniapoto) is the Head of Commissioning at TVNZ

Prior to TVNZ, Summer worked and for a number of independent production companies producing Māori content for broadcast, before shifting into a commissioning role at Māori Television, and then a short stint as Interim Head of Content Development. Since 2019 Summer’s roles at TVNZ have included Commissioner, Māori and Pasifika, Local Content Manager, and Manager HEIHEI. She manages a commissioning team of 6 and has been Head of Commissioning since 2025.


Company bio

TVNZ (Te Reo Tātaki) is New Zealand’s state‑owned, commercially funded broadcaster, reaching more than two million New Zealanders each day through its streaming platform TVNZ+, broadcast channels TVNZ 1, 2 and DUKE, and its online news services. Its vision is to be the country’s #1 streamer for trusted news, sport and entertainment.