John Banas

Person

John Banas

Writing

Wellington, New Zealand

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 a…

IMDb

Known for

Popular titles

Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries

Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries

7.7 2012 TV Show
E Street

E Street

6.7 1989 TV Show
Water Rats

Water Rats

6.2 1996 TV Show
All Saints

All Saints

6.2 1998 TV Show
Rafferty's Rules

Rafferty's Rules

8.0 1987 TV Show
A Remarkable Place to Die

A Remarkable Place to Die

6.1 2024 TV Show
City Homicide

City Homicide

5.9 2007 TV Show
headLand

headLand

7.9 2005 TV Show
Battletruck

Battletruck

4.6 1982 Movie
Tricky Business

Tricky Business

7.5 2012 TV Show
Mirror, Mirror

Mirror, Mirror

7.6 1995 TV Show
Underbelly NZ: Land of the Long Green Cloud

Underbelly NZ: Land of the Long Green Cloud

6.0 2011 TV Show

Biography

A closer look

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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

Movies and shows, newest first

  1. 2025
    Packed Away

    Movie Dad / Clown Dad

  2. 2024
    A Remarkable Place to Die

    TV show Creator

  3. 2024
    The Lost Boys of Dilworth

    Movie Script Editor

  4. 2023
    The Red Shoes: Next Step

    Movie Writer

  5. 2022
    Destination Love

    Movie Writer

  6. 2021
    Love Knots

    Movie Writer

  7. 2020
    Toke

    Movie Writer

  8. 2019
    Ablaze

    Movie Writer

  9. 2019
    Straight Forward

    TV show Writer

  10. 2018
    Kiwi

    Movie Writer

  11. 2018
    In a Flash

    Movie Writer

  12. 2017
    Resolve

    Movie Writer

  13. 2016
    Pike River

    Movie Writer

  14. 2016
    Bombshell

    Movie Screenplay

  15. 2015
    The Monster of Mangatiti

    Movie Writer

  16. 2015
    Venus and Mars

    Movie Director

More credits
  1. 2015
    How to Murder Your Wife

    Movie Writer

  2. 2012
    Siege

    Movie Writer

  3. 2012
    Safe House

    Movie Writer

  4. 2012
    Tricky Business

    TV show Writer

  5. 2012
    Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries

    TV show Writer

  6. 2011
    Underbelly NZ: Land of the Long Green Cloud

    TV show Writer

  7. 2007
    City Homicide

    TV show Creator

  8. 2005
    headLand

    TV show Writer

  9. 1998
    All Saints

    TV show Writer

  10. 1997
    Mirror, Mirror II

    TV show Director

  11. 1996
    Water Rats

    TV show Writer

  12. 1995
    Mirror, Mirror

    TV show Director

  13. 1989
    E Street

    TV show Zoran

  14. 1988
    Emma: Queen of the South Seas

    TV show Director

  15. 1987
    Rafferty's Rules

    TV show Ken Bascomb

  16. 1983
    Nearly No Christmas

    Movie Patch

  17. 1983
    Strata

    Movie Steve

  18. 1982
    Bad Blood

    Movie Macko Hager

  19. 1982
    Battletruck

    Movie Reuben

  20. 1974
    Phone

    Movie