“I’m a magpie when it comes to my writing,” laughs Catherine Chidgey. The well-established Kiwi writer has just returned to New Zealand after an international tour promoting her novel, “The Axeman’s Carnival”. The book, which won the prestigious Acorn Prize for best New Zealand adult fiction in 2023, also has a magpie as a storyteller. It is narrated by Tama, a half-domesticated magpie living with some complicated humans on a backcountry Kiwi farm. While in the UK to publicise the novel earlier this summer, Catherine also went searching for new creative tidbits for her upcoming books.

Anna Petchell has been filming sports events for years, but this Northern Hemisphere summer has simply overflowed with Kiwi sporting highlights. Anna’s camera recorded New Zealand’s breakout successes at Wimbledon and the Olympics, allowing Kiwis around the world to enjoy these events ‘live’ and up-close on their screens. An entrepreneurial freelancer and also career mentor, Anna has shared with our Network some of her epic shots and behind-the-scenes stories from filming this truly sensational sporting summer.

“It’s a broadcasting and logistical feat!” says Anna Petchell about working as a camera operator at the Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony. Anna would know, as she’s been behind the camera at some of the biggest sports events of the summer - including Lulu Sun’s incredible run and the Centre Court finals at Wimbledon. 

Anna hails from Kiwitahi, New Zealand, south of Morrinsville in the Waikato. After studying communications (television) at AUT, she began working in NZ broadcasting in 2004, in a range of production roles. Her UK adventure first began in 2010, and she has moved between Europe, the Caribbean, USA and NZ since then. She also has seven years of hands-on sailing experience in the globally-itinerant superyacht industry.