Posted Monday 17 May 2010
Statistics New Zealand's Screen Industry Survey Regional Data for 2008/09, released last week, shows the Auckland region dominated the New Zealand screen industry last year in both total revenue and number of businesses, while the Wellington region was ahead in feature film and post-production revenue. Although Auckland's revenue dropped by 6 percent in 2009, to $2.2 billion, it still made up more than three-quarters of the total screen industry takings nationwide. Wellington screen production revenue, on the other hand, increased by 51 percent to $531 million.
Wellington's revenue growth was driven by a rise in production and postproduction revenue, specifically in digital graphics, animation, and effects. Revenue for feature films in Wellington grew by 70 percent to $429 million, while revenue earned for feature films in Auckland fell 42 percent to $220 million.
"Wellington dominated New Zealand film production in 2009, while Auckland remains top of television production," business performance manager Gary Dunnet said.
Pointing to success stories such as Sticky Pictures' short film Six Dollar Fifty Man, Krafthaus's Digital Emmy for Reservoir Hill, and Production Shed's prizewinning television series Kaitangata Twitch, manager of Film Wellington Delia Shanly says her organisation is pleased with the results. "Last year was not an easy year for the industry globally and it's very pleasing that both in the Wellington region and nationally, the industry has continued to grow."
This is the first time Statistics NZ has released a regional breakdown of data from the Screen Industry Survey. The survey is conducted annually and is posted to all businesses involved in various aspects of the screen industry. Full survey results will be published in August 2010.