Dave Hurley

Dave Hurley was already an established fixture in New Zealand's music industry when he became a sound recordist for the screen. Hurley grew up in Palmerston North, and went on to play in bands The Saints and The Breakaways, before co-founding Auckland record label Mandrill in the 1970s. His first screen credit on Roger Donaldson's Derek in 1974 led to a sound recordist career spanning over four decades. Predominantly working in television, Hurley recorded sound for a run of TV movies, drama series and documentaries. His work for the big screen includes award-winning shorts (Still Life, Junk) and features (Deathgasm).  

I didn’t realise that I was expected to work gratis. I’d taken time off from my university gig and had a family to feed. I insisted on getting something — it was $100 in the end. Dave Hurley on his first screen job, as a sound recordist on 1974 teleplay Derek, AudioCulture website, 13 March 2016