Film-makers lining up to get into NZ

Moviemakers are lining up to get into Covid-safe New Zealand, as demand increases for content on streaming services like Netflix.

And the Government is planning to cash in on the country’s coronavirus status, which Economic Development Minister Phil Twyford said gave the country a competitive advantage.

He said there was worldwide demand for content for streaming services such as Netflix, and New Zealand was a global safe haven in their eyes, he said.

However, he said it would be challenging for more overseas productions to get past the border. ‘‘The border is such a focus for us and there are so many Kiwis who are returning from overseas.’’

There had been a very tight window for economic essential film workers to get into the country to film on both Lord of the Rings and Avatar, he said.

‘‘Some workers came through a special exception but if any overseas production houses now wanted to come set up here, it would rely on the border being more open than it is now.’’

Twyford said the screen industry had been interrupted during the lockdown period and it was safe to resume screen production sooner than international competitors.

‘‘We want to get them [international and domestic] back up and running because it is great for the economy and great for jobs. New Zealand continues to attract a number of international screen projects, including the Avatar sequels, and Amazon’s TV series based on The Lord of the Rings.’’

Between them, that was several billion dollars’ worth of investment and hundreds of jobs during the next few years, he said.

The Government announced a boost in funding for international and domestic film-makers in the wake of Covid-19, with more than $230 million pumped into projects.

Three funding initiatives in a screen sector support package announced yesterday are aimed at protecting jobs and boosting investment in the industry.

These include a $140m top-up for the New Zealand Screen Production Grant for International Productions, with $25m being reallocated to support the funding for New Zealand feature films.

It will also see a Screen Production Fund of $73.4m, to ensure more than 230 productions that employ thousands of New Zealanders are not abandoned because of Covid-19. The package also provides $25m over four years to NZ On Air for Pacific, student and disability broadcast media.

For a second consecutive day, there are no new Covid-19 cases to report. But there is a possibility that community transmission will occur again in New Zealand.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern described New Zealand as a ‘‘safe haven in a very dangerous world’’.

‘‘To avoid a second wave of Covid-19 we must continue in a phase of being on guard,’’ she said yesterday.

The director-general of health, Dr Ashley Bloomfield, said while there was no evidence of community transmission at present, it was a ‘‘real possibility’’ in the future.

Various measures might be needed to counteract that, such as placing restrictions on local regions, rather than requiring ‘‘blanket measures’’ across the country.

Ardern did not rule out putting local regions into lockdown, should the need arise. She said the ‘‘ultimate aim’’ was to not be back in that position, but there was a need to always be prepared.

Bloomfield was monitoring the processes implemented in Melbourne, where suburbs have gone into lockdown to reduce the spread of the virus.

Ardern highlighted that Victoria was in a position of low cases and days of no cases just a few weeks ago. ‘‘It is an example of how easily the virus can take hold again and why vigilance is so important.’’

She added many countries who achieved similar success to New Zealand had experienced outbreaks again.

For the first time since June 18, no new Covid-19 cases were reported on Tuesday.

The number of active cases in New Zealand remained at 22.

All active cases had been caught at the border after returning from overseas and were in managed quarantine facilities. One person remained in Auckland City Hospital in a stable condition.