Supporting a thriving screen sector

The changes will:

• support a strong and sustainable screen sector that is empowered to tell our stories both here and abroad
• ensure we can capture the significant benefits to the sector and the country as a whole from the Government’s investment via the grant.

The New Zealand Screen Production Grant is a rebate on money spent in New Zealand by qualifying international and domestic screen productions. With the support of the grant and the hard work of those in the sector, New Zealand has developed into a globally renowned production location.

The changes announced today mean all types of domestic productions will be able to access both the New Zealand Screen Production Grant rebate and other Government production funding, to encourage more high-quality, locally-focused content.

The additional 5% ‘Uplift’ rebate as part of the international component of the grant will be redeveloped to make the criteria clearer and more objective and the process more efficient and simpler to navigate.

The Post-Production, Digital and Visual rebate will become more competitive by moving it to a flat rate of 20% for all projects.

The qualifying expenditure threshold for Post-Production, Digital and Visual productions will drop from $500,000 to $250,000. This will help small New Zealand businesses compete for international projects and establish themselves in this fast growing, high wage and globally competitive industry.

In a small but important tweak, the name of the New Zealand Screen Production Grant will change to reflect it is a rebate on expenditure undertaken rather than a grant.

Final details of these changes will be shared with the sector by the end of July 2023.

These changes conclude the Review of Government Investment in the Screen Sector, underway since December 2021. Work will continue to strengthen our screen sector, focusing on developing our talented workforce and promoting New Zealand as an attractive production location.

New Zealand’s screen sector contributes more than $3.5 billion to the economy each year, directly employing 13,900 people, with flow on benefits for other industries, such as hospitality, construction and tourism.

More information 

Read the Ministers' release(external link) — Beehive.govt.nz

Review of Government investment in the screen sector