New Zealand screen industry earnings have broken the $3 billion barrier for the first time. Statistics New Zealand figures released recently show the industry grew by 10 percent to reach revenue of $3.29 billion last year. The survey tracks revenue and other indicators in film and television production and post-production, film distribution and television broadcasting in the twelve months to 1 April 2012.
Income from production and post-production, for the first time, made up just over half of the total, at $1.67 billion. This is significant as it is the sector which is creating growth, particularly from feature films. Revenue from feature films rose almost 50 percent to top $1 billion for the first time.
While these figures are something that could barely have been imagined a generation ago, screen work is by nature volatile and project-driven, and not all sectors of the industry are experiencing the same growth. The challenge is as always to get sustained work for New Zealand.
In such a changeable industry any one year's results cannot be looked at in isolation. The crucial thing is the trend over time. And what the figures consistently show is that the industry is continuing to grow, and has good reason to be proud of its achievements.