NZ Playwright Paul Maunder

Paul Maunder (1945) is a film director, playwright and "cultural activist" from New Zealand. He is best known for his 1979 film of the Albert Wendt novel Sons For the Return Home, and his 1983 play Hemi, about the life of NZ poet James K. Baxter.

Maunder studied at Victoria University of Wellington, the National Institute of Dramatic Art in Sydney and the London Film School. He received a doctorate in Theatre and Film Studies from the University of Canterbury.

Returning to New Zealand, Maunder worked for the state-owned National Film Unit. In addition to directing a number of the documentaries the unit was best known for, he directed three drama productions which were screened on television: Gone up North for a While, One Of Those People That Live In The World and Landfall (the film debut of Sam Neill).

In 1971, Maunder formed Amamus theatre troupe in Wellington, staging protest plays.

South Pacific Berets customer Paul Maunder currently lives in the small town of Blackball on the West Coast.