Auckland’s screen sector now earns nearly $1 billion a year in production and post-production revenue.
The release of Statistics New Zealand’s annual industry economic data for the 2016 year has brought good news for the region, says Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development (ATEED) Chief Executive Brett O'Riley.
Reputation as filming destination grows
Auckland’s international reputation as a feature film destination continues to grow, with productions such as Warner Brothers/Gravity Pictures’ movie MEG – filmed at Auckland Film Studios and the new Kumeu Film Studios last year – and the New Zealand family feature film Kiwi Christmas helping to fuel a 90 per cent revenue increase in 2016 from feature film screen production in Auckland, to more than $350 million.
Auckland hosted nearly 80 per cent of the country’s television programme production, and nearly 90 per cent of television commercial production.
Together, TV programmes filmed in Auckland in 2016 accounted for nearly $390 million in production revenue, and TV commercials another $160 million.
Production industry in good shape
Overall, the New Zealand production industry is in good shape, helped by the New Zealand Government’s globally competitive Screen Production Grant programme which was boosted in 2014.
Statistics NZ recorded a 14 per cent increase to $1.78 billion in revenue from businesses involved in production and post-production, and says export income for New Zealand from the overall screen sector was up 32 per cent.
Growth ‘fantastic news’
ATEED – which works with industry and agency partners to grow the sector in Auckland and New Zealand – says the third straight year of significant production revenue growth is 'fantastic news' for the region.
“With a number of key productions in town again, this year is shaping up as another strong one. Our screen attraction specialists continue to field inquiries from significant international productions considering Auckland, which gives the industry confidence the pipeline is going to continue to delivering growth for our region,” he says.
Statistics NZ says indicates the screen industry is maturing. The earnings per screen industry job/contract continues to increase, marking screen as a typical ‘gig’ economy sector where workers have more than one job or contract – and these increase in value year-on-year.