August 7, 2007

MEDIA RELEASE (For Immediate Release)

The Big Picture

Thousands of jobs and an industry worth millions of dollars a year is in jeopardy if severe restrictions are placed on film activities.

That’s the warning from Waitakere mayor Bob Harvey whose Council today made a presentation to the Parks and Heritage sub-committee of the Auckland Regional Council (ARC).

The ARC is considering restricting film and television activity in key locations such as Piha, Karekare and Anawhata beaches. It also intends restricting activities such as weddings and sports events.

Mr Harvey says that in 2006 there were 16 “Discretionary Activities” at Piha- the ARC proposal is to cap those at 10. Likewise, in 2006 there were 22 such activities at Karekare; the ARC proposal is to allow only 5.

Today, ARC Councillors were told that in the past decade Waitakere City has carved itself a niche as “The Hollywood of the South Pacific”.

Literally thousands of feature films, television shows and commercials have been shot in and around the City.

“The Auckland region and in particular Waitakere is home to around 70 percent of New Zealand’s screen production activity. To place severe controls on that level of activity is just crazy,” Mayor Harvey says.

Later this month the country’s largest film studio and sound stage will open in Henderson, said Mayor Harvey. At a cost of $7 million it will employ around 250 people.

“So on one hand the private sector is pouring millions of dollars into developing infrastructure, and on the other they are being told they aren’t wanted.”

Mr Harvey says that as the ARC’s proposals stand, gatherings of more than 50 people could be restricted. “That means things like school trips to the coast could be jeopardized. I can’t imagine that is what the ARC intends but it does show what a blunt tool these sorts of restrictions are.”

“Everybody acknowledges how special and sensitive the Ranges are,” says Mayor Harvey. “But we have to balance good stewardship with commonsense.”

He adds that nationally film and television make a significant contribution to New Zealand’s economy and export earnings. Statistics New Zealand’s first Screen Industry in New Zealand survey (published in November last year) showed a gross revenue of $2.6 billion in the 2005 financial year-- comparable to those of the forestry and logging and the horticulture and fruit growing industries ($2.8 billion).

“This is big business. It’s a serious business,” says Mayor Harvey. “And the ARC simply has to show some leadership and common-sense to nurture and grow it.”

Waitakere City’s economic development agency (Waitakere Enterprise) also made a submission at the ARC hearing today.

Ends

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