Michael Anthony Noonan (4 December 1940 – 11 June 2023) was a New Zealand writer, most often associated with his writing for television drama series. He is usually credited under either his full name or as Michael A. Noonan, so as to be distinguished from New Zealand-born Australian writer Michael Noonan.

Michael A. Noonan
BornMichael Anthony Noonan
(1940-12-04)4 December 1940
Ireland
Died11 June 2023(2023-06-11) (aged 82)
Auckland, New Zealand
LanguageEnglish
GenreScreenwriting, television
SpouseRos Noonan

Biography

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Born on 4 December 1940,[1] Noonan grew up in the southern South Island, in Dunedin and Oamaru.[2] After leaving school he began writing, notably drama such as The Rattle, whilst supplementing his income through work in radio and stage acting and as a regional television newsreader. He moved to Auckland in 1965, where he began writing for television. In 1969, he became the first script editor for the newly created television drama department of the NZBC. In this capacity he worked alongside and helped mentor a group of new writing talent including the likes of Roger Hall and Fiona Kidman. He left his editing position in the early 1970s, and in the proceeding years scripted several series, notable among them early children's television series The Games Affair.[2]

In the following years, Noonan formed a close working relationship with director Tony Isaac.[3] In 1975 their collaboration won a Feltex Award for The Longest Winter, a docu-drama about the Great Depression. The same year saw the debut of Close to Home, for which Noonan and Isaac became a principal writer and director. This was to prove to be New Zealand's most successful soap opera until the launch of Shortland Street 17 years later. In 1977, Noonan wrote the docu-drama The Governor, based on the life of Sir George Grey. This series, also directed by Isaac, too was to become a New Zealand television landmark.[2]

In 1979, Noonan became the first scriptwriter to be awarded a Robert Burns Fellowship by the University of Otago. During this time he wrote two series which were cancelled before going into production, notably one based on Bill Pearson's novel Coal Flat. The cancellation was, in part, due to financial concerns, especially given that The Governor had proved controversial over its high production costs. Television New Zealand was approached again over the Coal Flat project in 2002, but funding was declined.[4] Noonan later successfully adapted Roger Hall's stage play Glide Time into a long-running television comedy series, Gliding On.[2]

Noonan died in Auckland on 11 June 2023, at the age of 82.[5]

Filmography

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Television

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The numbers in writing credits refer to the number of episodes.

Title Year Credited as Network Notes
Creator Writer
Pukemanu 1971 No Yes (2) NZBC Story editor
Section 7 1972 No Yes (2) Story editor
An Awful Silence 1972 No No Script editor
Television film
Richard John Seddon: Premier 1973 No Yes Television documentary film
The Longest Winter 1974 No Yes
The Games Affair 1975 No Script Credited as Michael Anthony Noonan
Close to Home 1975–1983 Yes Yes (1,130) Television One
On the Day 1975 No Yes Television film
Credited as Michael Anthony Noonan
The Governor 1977 Stories by No Television One Credited as Michael Anthony Noonan
Loose Enz 1982 No Yes (2) Credited as Anthony Noonan
An Age Apart 1983 No Yes (1) Credited as Anthony Noonan
Mortimer's Patch 1984 No Yes (1) Television 2 Credited as Anthony Noonan
Homeward Bound 1992 Developer Yes TV3 Credited as Michael Anthony Noonan

References

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  1. ^ "Death search: registration number 2023/17474". Births, deaths & marriages online. Department of Internal Affairs. Retrieved 24 June 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d Pryor, Ian (15 June 2023). "Michael Noonan biography". NZOnScreen. Retrieved 24 June 2023.
  3. ^ Tony Isaac biography", nzonscreen.com. Retrieved 14 March 2013.
  4. ^ "Michael Noonan", University of Otago Burns Fellows. Retrieved 14 March 2013.
  5. ^ "Michael Noonan obituary". The New Zealand Herald. 13 June 2023. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
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