Auckland initiative to enhance NZ's screen production capability

A boost to Auckland's film and television capability is expected to benefit the national screen production industry and help secure further investment in New Zealand production and post-production companies, Industry Development Minister Jim Anderton said today.

The Auckland Regional Economic Development Strategy and Film Auckland are to receive up to $2 million over the next three years from New Zealand Trade and Enterprise’s regional partnership programme to help establish the Auckland Screen Production Major Regional Initiative,

The MRI development includes infrastructure development, international marketing and training and capability building components and includes significant investment sourced from private investors.

The Progressive leader said that the screen production industry provides a global showcase for New Zealand’s talent, creativity and innovation.

"We can offer the world our diverse locations, skilled and experienced crews, innovative technological capacity, state of the art post-production facilities and regional resources. A boost to Auckland’s film and television capability will benefit the national screen production industry and help secure further new investment in New Zealand production and post-production companies, Jim Anderton said.

"Securing continued international investment is vital for growth and the development of our domestic industry and skills. Like all global industries, the screen production industry is increasingly mobile and we have to offer a package of options and facilities to market New Zealand’s attractiveness as an investment destination. This facility will complement existing national infrastructure and enable us to do just that,” Jim Anderton said.

An economic impact report prepared for the Auckland Regional Economic Development Strategy, or AREDS, projects the MRI will help boost gross domestic product by between $32 and $34.7 million between 2005 and 2010 and facilitate the creation of more than 250 jobs a year.

AREDS chief executive, Dr Susan Macken, says the MRI forms part of a major thrust for economic growth within the Auckland region and provides an integrated approach to growing New Zealand’s screen production industry.

“The result will be a vibrant and growing industry leveraging existing film production success to attract greater foreign investment and earnings – substantially contributing to our aim of expanding the Auckland region’s horizons, building its wealth and future community.”

The MRI proposal was developed by AREDS in collaboration with the Auckland screen production industry (Film Auckland together with individual companies) and in consultation with national industry bodies such as Film New Zealand, which is New Zealand’s national location office.

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