Majority back Hobbit movie deal, but don’t want a repeat

November 24, 2010
Media release

Majority back Hobbit movie deal, but don’t want a repeat

A majority of New Zealanders support the deal the Government did with Warner Bros to keep Hobbit film production in New Zealand. However, a majority don’t want a similar deal done again.

A new nationwide HorizonPoll finds 56.4% support for the agreement the Government made with United States film studio Warner Bros. Only 18.8% disapprove of the deal, under which the company received additional tax write-offs for large-budget films of about $15 million, and another $13 million for marketing. Warner Bros agreed to include material in DVDs to film audiences promoting New Zealand.

The Government also changed labour law under urgency to clarify the distinction between contractors and employees in the film production industry. Contactors are not entitled to certain benefits like sick leave or holiday pay.

The HorizonPoll, conducted between November 16 and 22, finds 60% believe the Government had to make the deal or the $640 million budget films would not have been made in New Zealand.

Only 11% say the Government did not have to make the deal, while 15/1% are neutral and 6.5% don’t know.

Asked if the agreement were unnecessary and Warner Bros would have continued to make the movies in New Zealand without it, 49.8% disagreed. Only 20% thought the studio would have continued production without the deal.

Some 42.9% support the deal to change labour laws, 28.6% oppose, and 24.4% are neutral.

However, asked in principle, if a New Zealand Government should change laws in this manner in future,51.9% say no, 23.9% yes while 24.2% don’t know.

The weighted HorizonPoll survey has a maximum margin of error of ± 2.2%.

More detail on this poll result is available at www.horizonpoll.co.nz

ENDS

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