New Zealand creates first regional incentive to boost international production

New Zealand has launched a $1m ($1.5m NZD) grant for local and international film and TV productions shooting in the Canterbury region of the South Island. 

Productions must have a total production budget of at least $338,200 ($500,000 NZD), a finance plan in place and the aim to wrap filming in the same year that the production is applying for. Productions can apply a year in advance. 

The next round of funding will open on the January 17 and close on April 1 2022, 

Funding can be combined with New Zealand’s other financial incentives, which include the New Zealand Screen Production Grant for live-action productions at 20% of qualifying New Zealand production expenditure (providing they spend $10.5m ($15m NZD) or more for film) and a post, digital and visual effects grant, which is 20% of qualifying New Zealand production expenditure up to $17.5m ($25m NZD), then 18% (expenditure must be at least $351,000 ($500,000NZD)).

The grant is the only regional incentive scheme in New Zealand and comes from Screen CanterburyNZ, an organisation which operates as part of economic development agency ChristchurchNZ, to support filmmakers in the Canterbury region.

All applications will be reviewed and ranked based on a set of metrics where higher points are awarded based on economic value to Canterbury, such as value of production spend in Canterbury, number of shoot days in the region, number of local crew hired, use of local suppliers and facilities and willingness to up-skill local crew.

The region of Canterbury is New Zealand’s third largest screen economy. Most international production takes place in Auckland and Wellington, in the North Island region.