Auckland's screen production sector became a billion-dollar industry for the first time in 2017, according to Statistics New Zealand's latest annual industry economic data released yesterday which shows it earned more than $1.1 billion in gross revenue.
The numbers reflect Auckland's burgeoning international reputation as a feature film destination, with a 37 per cent increase on the already strong gross revenue contribution from feature film production/post-production – to nearly $490 million.
Auckland also cemented its status in 2017 as the country's dominant location for television production, with $420m (or 90 per cent) of the national gross revenue from television commercial production/post-production earned in the region. Auckland earned $121m (or 84 per cent) of the country's television series production/post-production gross revenue.
The region's strength last year was reflected in filming of productions including the soon-to-be-screened The Legend of Monkey television series at Kumeu Film Studios, commissioned by Netflix; the third series of the award-winning Australian TV series 800 Words, produced in Auckland by South Pacific Pictures; and the latest Stephen David Entertainment TV series James Patterson, Murder is Forever. STX Entertainment's feature film Adrift was also partially filmed in Auckland last year
The number of businesses involved in Auckland's screen industry grew 9 per cent in 2017, Statistics NZ says.
Overall, the New Zealand production industry is in good shape, helped by the New Zealand Government's globally competitive Screen Production Grant programme. Statistics NZ recorded an 8 per cent increase to $1.8 billion in revenue from businesses involved in production and post-production, and says export income for New Zealand from the screen sector was up 19 per cent – mostly from North America.
Nick Hill, Chief Executive of Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development (ATEED) – which works with industry and agency partners to grow the industry in Auckland and New Zealand – says the fourth straight year of significant production revenue growth is great news for the region.
"With the two new sound stages at Kumeu Film Studios about to be completed and a major international production ready to move in for the rest of the year, and a number of other key television productions such as Power Rangers – in town again at Studio West and on location – this year is another strong one.
"The local industry is in a very good place, with confidence as a result of the pipeline of international and domestic productions and the new infrastructure coming on stream," he says.
Kumeu Film Studios has world-class assets thanks to a legacy partnership involving Warner Bros/Gravity Pictures, the New Zealand Film Commission, and ATEED on behalf of Auckland Council, and the significant investment of the private land owner who funded the new sound stages' construction.
The trailer for the major international feature film, The Meg, which was filmed in part at Kumeu Film Studios and on the waters around Auckland by Warner Bros. and Gravity Pictures was also released yesterday, offering another glimpse of Auckland's screen capability to a global audience.