Film Friendly New Zealand
Our Government and local bodies support filmmakers in New Zealand by ensuring a co-ordinated and straightforward approach to compliance issues like permitting, immigration and taxation. This means compliance is not a significant budget item.
With the proliferation of filming in New Zealand, local regional authorities and district councils offer their full support to the film industry and many have implemented film friendly policies in conjunction with Film New Zealand.
What exactly is Film Friendly?
Gaining Film Friendly status is formal recognition that local authorities have the necessary processes and policies in place to meet screen production industry needs as they arise, without compromising the councils' statutory obligations.
Requirements from councils and the screen production industry are detailed in the Local Government Filming Protocol (PDF, 1.03MB). Councils may respond to meeting Film Friendly requirements in different ways depending on the scale and relevant importance of screen production activity in that location.
Film Friendly also means working collectively to provide a supportive environment for the screen production sector.
What are its benefits, for both councils and production companies?
Screen production activity is recognised as a significant economic contributor in many regions of New Zealand. In fact, many projects may involve activity over multiple council boundaries. The ability to have consistent and transparent treatment for screen production activity throughout the country is considered desirable for promoting the continued growth of this industry in New Zealand.
By practicing Film Friendly, councils benefit from repeat economic activity, higher profile as a desirable production location, ease of consent and permission processing, and the ability to leverage off successful films shot in that location.
For production companies, Film Friendly provides an easy point of contact in the area to help facilitate requirements within councils' jurisdiction and a greater degree of certainty regarding the companies' obligations.
How do councils sign up to it?
To become Film Friendly a council will need to demonstrate that it understands and agrees to progress in adopting film friendly processes and policies as outlined in the Protocol. The signing of a simple agreement between the council and Film New Zealand on behalf of the screen production industry recognises each party's commitment to film friendly requirements. Film New Zealand then issues a certificate of film friendliness and publishes the council's name with a web link below.
Local Government New Zealand can provide the necessary guidance and contact point to gaining Film Friendly status.
Does it cost councils to become Film Friendly?
There is no fee associated with becoming or remaining Film Friendly. Internal costs associated with adopting and supporting film friendly activity will need to assessed by each council.
For more information about becoming film friendly please contact Colin Drew at Local Government New Zealand.
Film Friendly Councils
For a full list of local and regional council contacts, visit Local Government New Zealand.
