John Banas
Known For: Writing
Biography
John Banas is a New Zealander writer, director, actor and teacher who has, for over forty years, worked extensively in New Zealand, Australia and the United States. He began as an actor, writer and director in Kiwi theatre during the 1970s, Banas increasingly focused on dramatic writing for television from the 80s on. After relocating to Australia, he established himself as a prolific TV screenwriter with a string of iconic shows, including Blue Heelers and City Homicide. His many New Zealand scripts include Bombshell and award-winning telemovies Siege and How to Murder Your Wife.
Filmography
2025
- Packed Away as Dad / Clown Dad
2024
- The Lost Boys of Dilworth ... (Script Editor)
2023
- The Red Shoes: Next Step ... (Writer)
2022
- Destination Love ... (Writer)
2021
- Love Knots ... (Writer)
2020
- Toke ... (Writer)
2019
- Straight Forward ... (Writer)
- Ablaze ... (Writer)
2018
- In a Flash ... (Writer)
2017
- Resolve ... (Writer)
2016
- Pike River ... (Writer)
- Bombshell ... (Screenplay)
2015
- How to Murder Your Wife ... (Writer)
- The Monster of Mangatiti ... (Writer)
- Venus and Mars ... (Director)
2012
- Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries ... (Writer)
- Safe House ... (Writer)
- Tricky Business ... (Writer)
- Siege ... (Writer)
2011
- Underbelly NZ: Land of the Long Green Cloud ... (Writer)
2007
- City Homicide ... (Creator)
2005
- headLand ... (Writer)
1998
- All Saints ... (Writer)
1997
- Mirror, Mirror II ... (Director)
1996
- Water Rats ... (Writer)
1995
- Mirror, Mirror ... (Director)
1989
- E Street as Zoran
1988
- Emma: Queen of the South Seas ... (Director)
1987
- Rafferty's Rules as Ken Bascomb
1983
- Strata as Steve
- Nearly No Christmas as Patch
1982
- Battletruck as Reuben
- Bad Blood as Macko Hager