Cornelius, Rod

began a lengthy career in the television industry when he joined NZBC as a senior floor manager in 1963. Over the next 33 years until his retirement in 1996, Mr Cornelius moved through the ranks – from a production officer, producer and executive producer to television manager (Christchurch) and head of information programmes (Television Two).

By the 1980s, Mr Cornelius was controlling programme production at TVNZ – responsible for drama, general and special interest, Mäori, documentaries, features, children and young people, and entertainment.

In 1987, he became controller of production resources for the finance, personnel and equipment used on all TVNZ productions. By 1990, he was an executive director of TVNZ as Director of Resources, a position he held for four years, before spending his final two years at TVNZ as Managing Director of Avalon Television.

In retirement he served as President and founding member of the Devonport Historical and Museum Society on Auckland's North Shore.