Jayde Hudson (Waikato-Tainui, Ngāti Pūkenga, Ngāti Maniapoto) is a writer-director from Tāmaki Makaurau of Irish, Māori, and Pākehā descent. Having lived abroad for almost a decade before returning to Aotearoa-New Zealand in 2018, she draws inspiration from her experiences and connection to the storytelling traditions of her ancestors.

She holds a Bachelor of Communication from Massey University majoring in media studies and expressive arts and a diploma in Film & Television Production from South Seas Film School, specialising in script writing and drama directing. With a background in acting, Jayde takes a collaborative, performance-focused approach to her work. Her student short films, Dogma and Bingo, have screened at local and international festivals, and in 2024 she received the NZWG Seed Rautaki Māori grant for her feature project Nevermind while completing Script to Screen’s South Shorts mentorship. Her latest short, Constance (2025) is currently on the festival circuit.

Jayde enjoys crafting stories that connect emotionally and working closely with her cast to bring out grounded, authentic performances. From script to screen, she remains hands-on throughout the process, ensuring cohesion and integrity in the work. Collaboration is central to her practice, and she strives to create a space where everyone feels respected and creatively engaged.