Achievements in Design followed by gains for Screen Production

The Progressive Party's successful efforts to enhance the role of design in uplifting the competitiveness of New Zealand has been supplemented by positive gains for the screen production sector, leader Jim Anderton said today.

"By being inside the coalition government, the Progressives are showing how much can be achieved to improve the environment needed to develop world-class industries, based in New Zealand, which are required to deliver ongoing high quality employment opportunities for our people," Jim Anderton said.

The Labour Progressive coalition recently responded to the Design Taskforce's recommendations to the government by addressing all of the issues raised in that taskforce's report. Earlier today, the coalition outlined responses to the Screen Production Taskforce report that had recommended measures needed to help to significantly raise the foreign exchange earnings of that sector to the benefit of the whole economy and future job creation.

In its response, the coalition government has said it would provide funding for two years for the Screen Council, a stand-alone industry organisation with membership drawn from across the sector. The New Zealand Film Commission is also to receive a near doubling in its baseline funding in next year's budget in order to provide further support for the screen production industry in New Zealand.

The coalition also committed itself to review all existing government mechanisms for supporting the screen production sector and provide additional funding over two years to support Film New Zealand in its marketing of the sector and its promotion of New Zealand as a desirable location for investment in film production.

In July, Jim Anderton announced support for film and television productions made in New Zealand through a large production grant scheme.

ENDS

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