Siege

On 7 May 2009, police executing a search warrant in a Napier suburb were shot at by Jan Molenaar. Senior Constable Len Snee was killed, two officers and a neighbour injured; a 50 hour siege ensued. This adaptation of the events into a telefeature dominated the 2012 New Zealand Television Awards, winning Best One-off Drama, Script (John Banas), Performance (Mark Mitchinson as Molenaar), Supporting Actress (Miriama Smith), and Best Sound Design (Chris Burt). Hawke's Bay Today reviewer Roger Moroney said of the Mike Smith-directed drama: "They got it right".

That opening 13 minutes, before frivolous ads broke the spell, were as unsettling and explosive as anything I've seen ... a terrific piece of television production and a part of this community and country's history which had to be told respectfully and honestly. And it has been.

– Hawke's Bay Today reviewer Roger Morony on Siege, 18 June 2012

Key Cast & Crew

John Banas

Writer

Mark Mitchinson

As: Jan Molenaar

Mike Smith

Director

Riccardo Pellizzeri

Producer

Jon Cummings

As: Lenny Holmwood

Toby Leach

As: Senior Constable Grant Diver