Chasing big screen billions
New film office fighting to turn home of Hobbiton into industry powerhouse
It’s home to some of the most iconic scenes from the bestknown films ever made in
New Zealand but there’s much more potential for movie-making in Waikato than just The Lord of the
Rings and The Hobbit. A small team of industry professionals at Waikato Screen, a new film office based in Hamilton, are working hard facilitating the needs of filmmakers in a bid to make the region a cinematic powerhouse once again.
Waikato Screen has, until now, been a low-key operation yet that could soon change. Two members of the team, Madelien Scholten and Erin Griffiths, recently gave a presentation to the Hamilton City Council’s long term plan hearings where they outlined why they were needed, and why they needed the council’s help.
And there is some urgency to their request. Currently, there are three major international screen projects that are in production and preproduction throughout the wider Waikato region.
Such is the tremulous nature of the film studios, the Waikato Screen team say they cannot breathe a word about who is doing what and where, without the companies getting spooked and spontaneously decamping to other regions, or even countries, to make their films there instead.
Partially thanks to the Covid-19 pandemic the industry is burgeoning in New Zealand and the country’s two film-making capitals in Auckland and Wellington are overflowing with work.
But little of that work is flowing into Waikato.
In recent years the international screen industry had spent about $3.5 billion per year on making films in New Zealand, however the Waikato’s share of that money was a puny $170 million – less than five per cent of the total haul.
‘‘It’s not as much as we are supposed to have, if you take into consideration the Waikato’s general GDP of 8.6 per cent,’’ Griffiths told the council.
‘‘We are currently missing out on quite a lot.’’
A big part of the reason why was because Waikato was the last region in New Zealand to have a film office, she said.
‘‘When you go into a country to film, you need someone to tell you where to go and who to talk to, who to hire, and help navigate you through the different legislations and permitting.’’
The payoff was potentially enormous.
‘‘In 1999 Matamata was best known for its horses and farming,’’ Griffiths said. ‘‘Well, it’s safe to say it is now known for its tourism – Hobbiton. Prior to Covid they pumped $78m annually into the district.’’
But the three films in the Hobbit trilogy had also proved a gigantic missed opportunity for Waikato, Griffiths said.
The Hobbit production had brought up 140 vehicles from Wellington, with 500 crew, for a seven-week shoot in Matamata.
‘‘They brought their own caterers and caravans. They actually brought their own chickens, ducks, goats and sheep as well. They also packed a huge lot of alcohol purchased in Wellington and brought that up with them as well.’’
Waikato Screen was founded three years ago by short film-maker Paige Larianova, who was joined not long after by Scholten, an advertising industry art director previously based in London; and Griffiths, who has a sales and marketing background.
The endeavour is an unfunded labour of love for all three. They work from their own homes, although plans are afoot to shift the base of
‘‘They brought their own caterers and caravans. They actually brought their own chickens, ducks, goats and sheep as well . . . ’’
Erin Griffiths
operations to the Tourism Waikato offices near Hamilton Airport.
The city council could help with funding for the employment of an economist, or help with putting together a business case for the organisation – at a cost of about $80,000 to $100,000 annually.
The city council wasn’t their only saviour. They had also secured or were pursuing funding from WEL Energy Trust, the Waikato Regional Council and Creative New Zealand.
‘‘There is a lot happening . . . We facilitate between them, and international governments and our communities and our iwis (sic).
‘‘Our role is to improve the communication, so everyone has a really pleasant filming experience when they are in the Waikato. Hopefully they go back and tell their friends, and they continue to use our area.
‘‘We want to stimulate the economy by linking the local businesses to the international productions. What we are finding out at the moment is that a lot of international productions that do choose the Waikato ... are taking their businesses from out of town because they don’t have any connections here.’’
Film office staff also had a big role in showcasing the region to the various directors, producers and location scouts; and they also made sure the various productions that were filmed here were done so in an environmentally-friendly manner.
Attracting more filmmakers to Waikato would have a massive impact on the region’s economy, Scholten said.
‘‘Besides the actors and directors, any medium to large production ... creates up to 30 [acting] roles, which creates up to
700 individual jobs.’’
Those jobs included local builders, joiners, electricians and plumbers, as well as people handling transport and warehousing duties and legal and scientific advisers. Scholten used the example of Mortal Engines, which was filmed in Wellington, and used 67 different sets – months of work for those tasked with constructing them. All those workers needed a place to sleep. Mulan, another production recently filmed in New Zealand – including, partially, in Piopio – spent
$10m on accommodation alone. Another goal Waikato Screen was pursuing was the establishment of a film studio, which would assist luring production companies to the region. Locations in Mystery Creek and Claudelands were being eyed for such a facility.
Some councils were already ‘‘completely supportive’’ of the initiative – particularly the South Waikato District Council where
Yogi Bear – which used hundreds of Tokoroa locals as extras – and
Pete’s Dragon had been filmed, providing a healthy boost for that area’s economy.