Film studio tipped for Chch
Former Bachelor star Jordan Mauger wants to bring Hollywood to Christchurch.
Mauger is behind a proposal to develop a film studio at the former Templeton Hospital on the outskirts of Christchurch.
The studio is expected to inject millions of dollars into the Canterbury economy as the city looks to capitalise on New Zealand’s reputation as a safe haven following the global Covid-19 pandemic.
Only Auckland and Wellington have dedicated film studios, despite the South Island being used extensively for locations for filming.
In 2019 alone, four feature productions were shot on location in Canterbury and the West Coast. These were Mulan (Disney), Only Cloud Knows (Emperor Motion Pictures), Letter for the King (Netflix) and The Luminaries (BBC).
Mauger wants his home city to benefit from a greater chunk of the money the film industry contributed to New Zealand each year. At the moment Christchurch received just a tiny percentage of that, he said.
‘‘Christchurch deserves a bit of that pie. I want to see these benefits come to Canterbury.
‘‘I’m sick and tired of living in Auckland. I want to come back to Christchurch.’’
Mauger, son of Christchurch City Councillor Phil Mauger, has worked in the domestic and international film industry for a number of years and is currently an assistant director.
He first raised the idea of creating a film studio on the former Templeton Hospital land, owned by his family’s company, in 2013 but the proposal has only recently gained serious momentum.
The plan has been submitted to the Government for funding as part of its call for ‘‘shovel ready’’ projects to kickstart the country’s economy.
If the project did not get Government money, it would still happen, but at a slower pace, Mauger said, because he would have to find some keen investors.
Mauger said the cost of the project would depend on the size of the studio – it could range from $10 million to $100m.
The project has been endorsed by Christchurch City Council, which will on Thursday discuss a move by rebuild planning agency Regenerate Christchurch to use special earthquake laws to make it easier for film studios to set up across the city.
Phil Mauger said he would not be taking part in that discussion, given the conflict of interest.
The city’s district plan does not expressly state that permanent film studios are permitted activities in commercial, industrial and rural zones.
The changes, if approved by Christchurch Regeneration Minister Megan Woods, would make commercial film or video production a permitted activity in areas including rural Templeton, removing the need to apply for a resource consent.
A council report said commercial film and video production facilities in Christchurch could generate between $50m and $200m in revenue.
Christchurch Mayor Lianne Dalziel said she 100 per cent supported the film studio being set up. ‘‘This is not about taking anything away from anywhere else in New Zealand.
‘‘New Zealand has a good reputation in this space and the amount of work that’s poured into both Auckland and Wellington would suggest there is room for more.’’
Screen CanterburyNZ manager Bree Loverich said New Zealand was in a unique position to leverage the screen industry for economic recovery as a result of the growing international demand for content and the challenges faced by other global production hubs.
‘‘This is the perfect time for Christchurch and Canterbury to play a role in this expansion as well as support national growth in a future-focused, low carbon, creative tech industry.