The Screen Production Sector Sizes Up

The Screen Production Sector Sizes Up

Statistics NZ has today released the highlights of its new Screen Industry Survey of the screen production sector. Total turnover for the sector in 2004/05 was $2.6 billion, a figure that Statistics NZ has compared with the horticulture and forestry and logging sectors.

"A $2.6 billion turnover is very impressive and highlights the already important contribution that the screen production sector makes to New Zealand", New Zealand Screen Council Executive Director Tim Thorpe says. "Not only do we make wonderful films, television programmes and commercials, this figure shows that we also make a significant financial contribution to the New Zealand economy, as well as portraying New Zealand's innovation and creativity abroad."

With an annual turnover comparable to the horticulture and forestry and logging sectors, the new statistics reveal the true level of the sector's achievement, Thorpe says.

"And what's more, even without the contribution of the blockbusters King Kong and Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, the sector would still be strong at an estimated $2.3 billion plus."

Thorpe says the overall figure would be higher still if the games industry was included, as was initially contemplated by Statistics NZ.

"What is particularly exciting is the contribution from export receipts of $540 million and the often underestimated contribution from television commercials at just over $130 million," Thorpe says.

The survey results also show that while most businesses and activities are located in Auckland and Wellington, the activity is more widespread throughout the country.

The Screen Council is also looking forward to the more detailed survey data that Statistics NZ will be releasing in December as it will highlight responses to questions asked about barriers to growth in the sector, such as labour skills shortages.

ENDS

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