It's not about battling your past but fighting for your future.
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.
Jazz was so wonderful and down to earth. We loved having her there to share her experiences and advice. She was really engaging and relatable for a lot of our attendees. ... keep reading Palmerston North City Council
Jazz really gauged the age of the audience and the pre meeting we had enabled her to focus the content age appropriate. We really appreciated her reference to our community eg rural and finding connection points with the audience. Jazz gave a seamless presentation and really valued each person she interacted with at such a personal level. We just loved Jazz's humble, kind and engaging way about her. So human!
She was amazing and her story really resonated with our team. It was so great for us to spend time with her.
Jazz Thornton presented with the utmost professional manner and read the room perfectly. She engaged well with the youth and held their attention throughout her presentation. Would recommend her as a speaker for any event.
Jazz was fantastic, really pleased with her and would definitely use her again for future events.
Jazz delivered a powerful and heartfelt kōrero that resonated with everyone that attended. Through sharing her personal journey, she offered meaningful insights that not only shed light on her path but also created space for reflection, connection, and healing. Her ability to speak with honesty and authenticity left a lasting impression on the audience, inspiring many to begin or continue their own journeys of healing, growth, and a sense of purpose.
Jazz was absolutely amazing, so professional and an absolute delight. We thank her so much for coming and starting this conversation for our wee district
