A Year In The Life Of Phil Raffills

A documentary looking at the final months in the life of Phil Raffills – controversial high school principal, city councillor and parliamentary hopeful – has received funding from NZ On Air.

“This is a special one-off documentary on the life of a special person,“ said NZ On Air Chief Executive, Jo Tyndall.

“The programme follows Phil’s battle with leukaemia, at the same time as he made his bid to become a Member of Parliament,“ she said.

As a school principal, Phil Raffills is remembered for turning the low performing Avondale College in Auckland into a huge success story. He was also a prolific hard worker and added the job of Auckland City Councillor to his list of public duties.

Last year, Raffills learned that he had leukaemia and decided to press on with his campaign to win the National seat for Roskill. He was passionate about education and wanted to take the Avondale College reforms on to a national forum in Wellington.

The documentary starts at a point four weeks before the general election and follows Phil and his family through the events leading up to his death in August this year.

NZ On Air has allocated $46,970 to Extreme Close Up Productions to produce the one hour documentary special, to be broadcast by TV One early next year.

ends

For further information:
Jo Tyndall
Chief Executive
NZ On Air
Tel: (04) 382 9524

This media release is available on the internet, at http://www.nzonair.govt.nz

Phil Raffills – A Year in the Life $46,970
1 x 1 hour documentary
Broadcaster: TV One
Producer: Rob Harley, Extreme Close Up Productions

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