Jazz Thornton

An award‑winning documentary filmmaker and internationally recognised mental health advocate, Jazz Thornton is one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s most influential voices for social change.

Co‑Founder of Voices of Hope, Jazz has dedicated her life to transforming how society understands mental health, safety and wellbeing. Following her own lived experience with mental illness, she has built a powerful career centred on storytelling, courage and impact — using film, advocacy and public dialogue to confront issues too often left unspoken.

In 2026, Jazz became the subject of the powerful Doco TV documentary series Stalked, which explores the deeply unsettling reality of stalking in the digital age. The series documents Jazz’s personal experience after an online follower crossed dangerous boundaries, exposing how quickly digital interactions can escalate into real‑world harm.

Sharing her story alongside those of other women across Aotearoa, Stalked highlights the warning signs of stalking, how easily personal boundaries can be crossed, and the lasting psychological, emotional and practical impact on those affected. The documentary has helped drive urgently needed conversations and greater awareness around an issue that is frequently misunderstood or minimised until it reaches crisis point, contributing to momentum for reform with changes set to be added to the Crimes Act.

Beyond the screen, Jazz has expanded this work through education and advocacy, using her lived experience to challenge assumptions and support safer, more informed conversations across communities and organisations.

Jazz’s impact through documentary storytelling began earlier with the release of the feature film The Girl on The Bridge, which premiered in 2020 and received widespread acclaim for its honest and hopeful exploration of suicide prevention. She also directed the award‑winning series Jessica’s Tree and The Silence Project, with the latter earning her recognition in 2017 as New Zealand’s youngest director to win the Doc Edge pitching contest.

An accomplished author, Jazz has written the best‑selling books Stop Surviving, Start Fighting and My Journey Starts Here, further cementing her role as a leading voice in youth mental health, resilience and wellbeing.

Her contributions have been recognised nationally and internationally. In 2021, Jazz received the Point of Light Award from Her Majesty The Queen and was named Young New Zealander of the Year. In 2022, she was crowned champion of New Zealand’s Dancing With The Stars, raising funds and awareness for Youthline.

Through fearless storytelling, lived‑experience leadership and a commitment to meaningful change, Jazz Thornton continues to challenge perceptions, open long‑overdue conversations, and inspire action across mental health, safety and social wellbeing.