Film and TV Quietly Growing in Auckland

Media Release
24 August 2010

Film and TV Quietly Growing in Auckland, Despite Recession

The film industry has remained busy in Auckland over the past few years despite the recession, largely thanks to a solid reputation built prior.  Export dollars are increasing as a portion of revenue in the industry.  The most recent figures show that even the number of businesses in screen industries increased 2008-2009.

Michael Brook, Executive Manager of Film Auckland says “Put simply, while we had a temporary drop off in overall revenue in 2008-2009, production is still strong in Auckland.   It is well spread across film, commercials, television, videos, short films and non broadcast.  Feature film activity is vibrant and local and international television production remains charmed by the region and its skillbase, and is still locating here. We have done remarkably well considering how badly some of our competitor’s regions have been affected by the recession.”

Offshore and New Zealand film production in Auckland continues apace as well, with several features in pre-production. 

“Auckland is expected to track very well in 2009-2010 because of a number of international feature film shoots includingYogi Bear, and Tracker and Avalon High – which is a telefeature,”  says Mr Brook.

The region also hosts the shooting of around 100 international TV commercials annually.

Last year, Auckland City Council produced a follow up report to two earlier studies on the creative industries in Auckland.  “The Numbers 2009” showed that 2000-2008, the Auckland region had experienced a 39.3% increase in employment – on average 4.2% per annum.  Numbers employed in screen production had increased by 1000.  The film and screen production and post production industry grew from $448 million in gross revenue in 2006, to $763 million in 2009, a gross revenue increase of 41%.

Latest figures show that the screen industry contributed $2.153 billion to Auckland’s regional economy.

“We think that the film industry has remained resilient in these tough times,”  says Cr. Aaron Bhatnagar.  “The industry has reached a level of mass and size that gives it international credibility.  Auckland is now a global competitor, competing with LA, Vancouver and Sydney to attract work.”

As at 2008, Auckland has 81% of the national employment in TV, 33% of employment in film and video nationally.   Thus the city is the major centre of New Zealand’s TV industry, and a significant centre for film and video production.  Cable and other subscription broadcasting employment grew 3.5 times faster than free to air employment and at the end of 2008 accounted for 36.3% of total employment in that sub sector.

A star contributor to Auckland’s place in the film and TV world are the post-production facilities.  Auckland city now accounts for over half the national employment in these activities.

Garry Little, managing director of Digipost, concurs with the report findings and says that while local production in TV commercials has been much slower, the slack has been taken up.

“In July 2009, the tap was turned back on again in Auckland post production and international TV commercials,”  he says.  “Work began coming out of China, Singapore and Malaysia.  We have to be lean and mean to compete with other post production facilities in Asia, but we’re still close to those markets and network them regularly.  Part of the attraction is that production staff from offshore can come here, and also take a few days off.  We’re regularly sending people to Waiheke.”

Digipost says that in the past few years its staff has increased by 10%.  “Most of the growth has come in the visual effects team,”  says Mr Little.

In May this year, Auckland City Council increased funding for Film Auckland, in recognition of the sector’s potential and achievement in contributing to business in Auckland.   Last year the council also introduced a new ‘film friendly’ policy and recently launched a new film protocol, through which films and videos seeking to be shot in the city could gain consents.

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