partner countries
NEW ZEALAND: profile
Key facts
Government funding
|
| Direct funding: National |
Yes |
| Direct funding: Regional |
No |
| Indirect funding: National |
Yes |
| Indirect funding: Regional |
No |
Society/Industry/Market
|
| Language |
English, Maori |
| Population |
4 million |
| No. films produced per year |
40 (2013) |
| Annual cinema admissions |
14.8 million (2013) |
| Domestic share of box office |
2.6% (2013) |
| No. TV households |
1.6 million |
| Local content regulation on TV |
No |
| Legal system |
Common Law |
| Currency |
$NZ |
Co-producing with New Zealand
New Zealand has no formal official co-production guidelines beyond the recognised key principles of the co-production structure, enabling maximum flexibility in assessment. In the period between 2009 and 2012, 12 official New Zealand co-productions (four features, eight TV series) were produced.
Thirteen feature dramas were produced in 2013, of which eight were co-financed by the New Zealand Film Commission, the government body that provides equity investment for feature films with ‘significant New Zealand content’. In addition, several incentive schemes have been put in place by the government, such as the New Zealand Screen Production Grant (NZSPG), providing cash grants ranging from 15 to 40 per cent. The various funding programs on offer are considered some of the most straightforward and responsive schemes in the world.
The high New Zealand dollar has played a significant role in keeping internationally funded production, including co-productions, down in recent years (Government intervention was required to ensure production The Hobbit trilogy remained a New Zealand), however a fall in the dollar across 2013-2014 has resulted in several international productions (including the Avatar sequels and a Power Rangers movie) choosing to shoot in New Zealand. The country boasts highly experienced crews, sophisticated post-production, sound mixing and visual effects crews and facilities (including Peter Jackson’s state-of-the-art facilities and Weta workshop), and the industry can accommodate a small number of big-budget films simultaneously.
Globally, New Zealand is a comparatively small market, with a total population of 4.4 million and 1.6 million TV sets. Cinema admissions are relatively healthy though – New Zealand’s box office gross for 2013 was NZ$174.9 million.