Gaylene Preston

Acclaimed New Zealand filmmaker Gaylene Preston is no stranger to the subject of war. Her documentary drama film Home by Christmas was a love story based on the wartime marriage of her parents, Ed and Tui, and in her documentary War Stories (Our Mothers Never Told Us) she captures powerful firsthand narratives from seven women delving into their own wartime experiences. She has also carried out two commissions for the Auckland War Memorial Museum, curating the footage for the ANZAC Illuminate films focusing on women at war and the sacrifices of the 24 Battalion.

Other acclaimed work includes the film Ruby and Rata and the mini-series Bread and Roses. Preston's award winning work has screened extensively at international festivals including Venice, Sundance, Toronto, London, Chicago, Sydney, Melbourne and New Zealand.

Professor Kevin Clements

Professor Clements is the Foundation Chair of Peace and Conflict Studies and Director of the New Zealand Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies at the University of Otago, Dunedin New Zealand. He was Secretary General of the International Peace Research Association from 2008-2010. Prior to taking up these positions he was the Professor of Peace and Conflict Studies and Foundation Director of the Australian Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies at the University of Queensland, Brisbane Australia.

Professor Clements has been a regular consultant to a variety of non governmental and intergovernmental organisations on disarmament, arms control, conflict resolution, development and regional security issues. He has written or edited seven books and over 150 chapters and articles on conflict transformation, peacebuilding, preventive diplomacy and development with a specific focus on the Asia Pacific region.

Nicky Hager

Nicky Hager works as an investigative journalist and author. He has written five books about New Zealand politics, intelligence, public relations and military subjects. These include The Hollow Men, a study of three years within the New Zealand National Party, and most recently Other People's Wars about New Zealand in Afghanistan and the war on terror. He lectures regularly on journalism and is the New Zealand representative in the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists.

Wallace Chapman

Wallace Chapman is charged with drawing forth the panellists’ wisdom as the Of Gods and Men LATE series attempts to answer whether the human race is marching toward anything good having wrested control of our lives from the lap of the gods. His ‘day job’ spans presenting a politics show, a host role with RadioLive and authoring a book ‘Slow Living’ released this year. Since 2008 Chapman has hosted the popular and one of a kind ‘pub politics’ show Back Benches which now airs on Prime TV. “He’s disarming because he asks that very hard question in a very simple, direct way.” (Listener Jan 2012 issue 3740).

The Vietnam War

The Vietnam War are Auckland's first real country rebels. Tattooed and soaked in whiskey, the Vietnam War are a rogues gallery of sorrow and life-worn tale tellers. This long standing five piece has supported The Blacks Keys and The National during their five years together, and has clocked a crazy amount of gigs at venues like K Road’s Whammy Bar and Newmarket’s Mexican Wrestling Mecca, The Lucha Lounge. Their debut album reached the top 5 of IMNZ Indie Chart and scared the living daylights out of the lower reaches of New Zealand’s Top 40.

The Vietnam War is Lubin Rains, Saan Barratt, Matthew Short, Kristal Gallagher, Kari Hammond. Their self-titled debut was released in 2011 to critical acclaim.

“It sounds like a treasured, dusty recording salvaged from a country enthusiast’s collection, and turned up loud for nostalgia’s sake.” – The New Zealand Herald, 4 stars

“It’s like every moment of longing and heartbreak in the history of mankind is distilled into this wonderful collection of songs.” – Cheese On Toast, 5 stars

“This is not caricature but a genuine exploration of style.” – Under The Radar, NZ