Daniel Betty has worked as a producer, actor and director throughout New Zealand and Australia. He has graduated from Unitec in Auckland with a Bachelor of Performing and Screen Arts and has a Post Graduate Diploma in Secondary teaching from Massey University.

Daniel has recently returned from Melbourne where he was the Executive Officer of the Council of Professional Teaching Associations. His role enabled him to work with Government and Curriculum bodies to develop policy and strategies to not only support the growth of the arts but a variety of curriculum areas. Before this role he was the Director of Drama Victoria, the teacher’s subject association and the artistic Director of Daniel Ryan Productions a youth theatre company devising work for teenagers by teenagers.

Upon returning to Hawke's Bay he has been at the birth of many great artistic initiatives. He championed community and education in the Hawke's Bay Arts Festival and Toitoi Hawke's Bay Arts and Events Centre. He assisted in the establishment of the Screen Hawke's Bay and has sat on a number of boards to grow events, funding opportunities and national/International connections.

Currently he is the Creative Director of Kōtiri Productions a production company that works on screen, on stage and on air. They have a strong social focus and champion creativity as a vehicle for social change.