Waxeye NZ | We are a workshop of wonder

Waxeye team

We are a workshop of wonder

As collaborators, artists and innovators, we work and play in the space where imagination and practicality meet.

We're known for our adaptability and collaborative nature. We tailor our approach to each project to ensure the best outcomes. Whether you need a strategic tech partner, an end-to-end web build, or immersive expertise, we're here to help. Our belief in the power of collaboration drives us to work closely with teams, departments, and organisations, leading to superior results.

Our artists are some of the best in business and have a strong storytelling background. We see every project as a narrative, and whether we're sketching, animating, or coding, we strive to create beautiful, memorable experiences that deeply engage the audience.

When we embark on a project, we're fully dedicated to our clients, accompanying them every step of the way, committed to achieving the best results.

Our commitment to our clients is not just for the project's duration but for the long-term success of their business. Some of our clients have been with us for over a decade. 

Meet our team

Paul

Paul James

Creative Partner

Paul is a Waxeye co-founder and visionary creative lead. Not just a director but a hands-on creator, he brings 30 years’ experience of art and film magic to our creation process. He’s an active listener and teller of stories: taking our clients’ aspirations, and realising the creative vision and technical requirements to bring them to life. A treasure trove of knowledge and champion of wonder, he brings humour and big wave surfing stories to every project.

Tony

Tony Leslie

Managing Partner

Co-founder Tony manages the seamless flow of Waxeye’s many departments. Our pragmatic alchemist, he pulls together creative ideas and solutions, and goes the extra mile to get the job done. He expertly balances team guidance with knowing when to step away and let them work their magic – in order to get the best possible result. In between juggling human and studio resources, he can be found riding waves, snow and the odd production timeline.

Neil

Neil Patton

Director of XR Innovation

Neil is our client relationship manager and director of innovation. His experience client-side across brand, marketing and innovation gives him great empathy for clients because he’s been in their shoes. Always looking to what’s next, he couples his passion for the new, with genuine partnership and guidance: empowering our clients to stride into immersive tech with confidence. With his burning passion for future technology and Japanese funk, he keeps the studio evolving – and the office stereo vibing.

Claudio

Claudio Varoli-Piazza

Digital Delivery Lead

As digital delivery lead, Claudio orchestrates projects with a conductor's prowess: keeping multiple plates spinning without missing a beat. Hailing from a technical background, he understands design and dev alike. And with his finger on the industry pulse, he brings the latest ideas and applications to make our outputs better. A retired Lego fanatic, he loves working strategically to deliver robust solutions that meet clients’ current, emerging and future needs.

Nadja

Nadja Rausch

Digital Design Lead

A highly experienced designer and strategic thinker, Nadja leads the planning and design of all digital projects. With an open and honest communication style, clients value Nadja’s input, expertise and leadership to help make projects sing. Taking projects to heart, she leads with kindness, but isn’t afraid to ask the tough questions when she sees opportunity for improvement. Guiding her team with direction and pace, it’s no wonder she’s also a champion at dog agility.

Kelsey

Kelsey Jones

Creative Technology Lead

Kelsey excels at dreaming up entire worlds and then bringing them to life. Known as our multidisciplinary magician, he has the know-how and technical proficiency in so many disciplines that we’ve now lost count. From hardware to software and 3D visuals, he collaborates on our teams’ wild ideas, then executes them in a way that’s both technically and aesthetically impeccable. He has a bizarre fondness for hard: the gnarlier the challenge, the more he smiles. 

Alex

Alex Varganov

Development Lead

Overseeing solution architecture strategy, backend and API development, Alex is an expert in delivering well-made, future-proofed products that require minimal maintenance. A code-cracking master of logic and restraint, Alex is the bridge between tech and creative, ensuring the wheels of a project are always moving in the same direction. Fluent in both dev and human speak, he makes the most complicated things seem simple, easy – and strangely, fun.

Nisch

Nisch Pokhrel

Lead Motion Artist

Nisch has been a key player in our most significant projects, showcasing his expertise in animation, visual effects, and virtual and augmented reality. As a master of his craft with a passion for tackling complex challenges, Nisch brings a meticulous touch to every project. Beyond his technical skills, he's also a karaoke enthusiast and a table tennis ace, proving he's a true all-around talent.

Sophie

Sophie Bloomfield

Producer

Meet Sophie, our dynamic hybrid project manager leading the way at our digital studio. Specialising in motion and immersive work, Sophie blends innovative thinking with meticulous project management to drive our most cutting-edge projects. Her energy and keen eye for detail ensure that every project not only meets but exceeds expectations. Sophie's seamless integration of creativity and organisation makes her an invaluable asset to our team. When she's not fine-tuning timelines and budgets, you'll find her dominating the gaming scene on weekends.

What we can do for you

Web + -

  • UX/UI design
  • Responsive websites
  • Interactive experiences
  • Concept prototyping
  • Quality testing
  • Custom dashboards
  • Content-driven sites
  • API integrations
  • Small business sites
  • Enterprise solutions
  • Legacy system migrations
  • Mobile apps

Motion + -

  • 2D animation
  • 3D animation
  • Motion graphics
  • Explainer videos
  • Character animation
  • Real time animation
  • 3D modeling and texturing
  • Visual effects (VFX)
  • Creative concept development
  • Animation for social media

Immersive + -

  • Virtual reality (VR)
  • Mixed reality (MR)
  • Augmented reality (AR) Apps
  • Immersive experience design
  • Spatial digital art
  • AI avatars
  • 360 filming
  • Social filters
  • Unity development
  • Immersive hardware sourcing
Waxeye team

Do you have an idea or project in mind? We’d love to help!

CONTACT US

We’re known as the easy guys to work with who get the job done.

  • We wanted to reignite the desire of Māori and New Zealanders to learn more and foster a heart and passion for our amazing taonga – Au Warawara – in all its splendour of ecological, environmental and cultural significance.

    Kiri Reihana
    Kairangahau Lead Researcher
  • Tamariki at kura enthusiastically related the te ao Māori aspects of this VR experience; no one ever wants one turn. They all want to do it again!

    Peata Graham
    Waikato Regional Council kaiwhakarite
  • We really enjoyed the process of working with Waxeye to develop our website. The team just ‘got us’ and understood what we were trying to achieve. Their suggestions were bang on. We’re thrilled with new logo and our clean, sharp website design.

    Kelly Coyle
    Founder 365 Training Hub
  • Waxeye is great to work with. They consistently go above and beyond to deliver against the brief and meet your expectations and deadlines. They are creative and professional and they care about the outcomes as much as you do.

    Karen Harker
    Manager, Communication and Brand - Chorus
  • I was impressed at how the team at Waxeye were able to meet our tight timelines in a very professional manner with an ability to work with imprecise requirements and flexibility. They provided insightful design advice and delivered to our needs on time.

    Craig Young
    TuaNZ