Peter Meteherangi Tikao Burger
Ngāi Tahu, Rangitāne and Pākehā (European).
Peter Burger is a director specializing in launching new television series and steering international co-productions. Production companies consistently choose him as lead director for first episodes when they need their strongest creative voice to establish a show's tone and vision from the outset.
His breakthrough came with the drama Fish Skin Suit, which won Best Drama at the 2002 NZ Film and Television Awards, while his short film Turangawaewae was selected for Critic's Week at Cannes the same year.
Peter has since built a reputation directing both domestic New Zealand content and international collaborations. His work spans from locally commissioned series like One Lane Bridge, which later sold to premium international clients including Sundance Now, to direct offshore commissions such as The Dead Lands for AMC's Shudder, and formal co-productions like The Gone for TVNZ and Ireland's RTE.
His domestic work has included award-winning telefeatures ranging from What Really Happened: Waitangi, examining New Zealand's foundational treaty, to Field Punishment No.1, winner of a Gold World Medal at the New York Festivals 2015. Other projects like Resolve have tackled contemporary social issues.
In the past five years, every series Peter has led has featured international collaboration, reflecting his ability to work across cultures and markets while maintaining authentic storytelling.
Māori stories and characters remain an important element of his work, and Peter is a fluent speaker of Te Reo Māori.
