NZ ‘open for film business’: Screen rebate expanded
Friday, 7 November 2025
The Government has announced it will widen the lucrative screen rebate scheme in an effort to attract more international film and television productions to our shores.
The rebate, first introduced in 2014, acts as an incentive by paying back a percentage of the spend on qualifying productions. Currently, productions that spend at least $15 million in New Zealand qualify for a 20% rebate with an extra 5% available for productions that deliver “broader” benefits.
But from January 1 next year, the minimum qualifying spend will drop to $4m and the threshold to access the additional 5% uplift will be lowered from $30m to $20m, to become more accessible for mid-budget productions.
Eligibility for the uplift will also be extended to include post-production, digital and visual-effects only productions - likely to capitalise on productions that utilise Wētā FX in Wellington.
Wētā FX welcomed the news. CEO Daniel Seah said: “Wētā FX celebrates today's announcement by the government to bolster their support of New Zealand’s film industry. The changes will make a tangible impact on the types of projects we as a country attract, further strengthening the positive economic effect the film industry has across Aotearoa.”
Speaking to sector leaders at Screen West in Auckland today, finance and economic growth minister Nicola Willis said the adjustments would ensure New Zealand remained competitive when it came to attracting top talent, and would give us the edge on Australia which has become especially in-demand for major productions.
“I want more productions happening in New Zealand,” Willis said. “It will give confidence that New Zealand is in the film race.”
The local film sector entertained audiences around the world, said Willis, along with providing economic benefit.
“It’s about the creative talent, it’s about the hard work but it’s also about the other businesses you support,” she said. The message was simple: “New Zealand is open for film business.”
New Zealand has long been a home for major film productions, sparked by the Lord of the Rings trilogy in the late 1990s. In recent years, the Avatar film series has been filmed and produced here, while new productions like A Minecraft Movie have also been shot across the country.
“They bring international visibility, they bring investment and they bring meaningful opportunities for New Zealand talent and business.”
However, the announcement may disappoint some working on local productions as the rebate only applies to those attracted from overseas.
It was arts and culture minister Paul Goldsmith who had oversight of the domestic rebate, said Willis, though he was “incredibly supportive” of the changes announced on Friday.
Willis said the decision to broaden the rebate had the full support of cabinet, which included the ACT Party. Its leader, David Seymour, has previously called the rebate scheme a form of corporate welfare.
“I’ve learnt the art of diplomacy,” Willis said when asked how she had won Seymour over. “All parties in the Government want the New Zealand economy to grow and support jobs.
“I think David accepts my pragmatic view which is there’s no point putting that funding to one side if the settings don’t work and we can’t get that funding out the door.”
Seymour had nothing further to add when approached.
Actor Cliff Curtis, who was among attendees at this morning’s announcement, told The Post the adjustments to the rebate were “crucial”.
“The incentives aren’t the most competitive in the world but it keeps us within a margin that, combined with our currency exchange, our crew, our expertise, our talent, our technology … it’s the whole package to keep us in the game.”
Curtis said that a balance needed to be struck between helping local talent achieve global success while also keeping productions in New Zealand. Taika Waititi, for example, has in recent years helmed films for Marvel that have been shot in Australia rather than his native home.
He wants producers like Waititi to return home. “We were just out-paced, we were so far out of the scope … the world is getting smaller.”
The updated settings will be funded through Budget 2025’s additional $577m that brought total funding for the International Screen Production Rebate to $1.09 billion.
Auckland deputy mayor Desley Simpson said the supercity was the “home of the screen sector” in New Zealand - not Wellington - as it had the “population, the space [and] the capacity” to attract top talent.
“I want the whole country to do well, but as a governor of Auckland, I’m super excited.”
New Zealand Film Commission boss Annie Murray welcomed the announcement, saying international productions were an essential part of New Zealand’s screen ecosystem.
“They generate export income and boost economic growth with flow-on benefits not just to creative industries but to tourism, hospitality, construction, and technology, they also create a sustainable pipeline for our local screen workforce and businesses.
“The screen sector supports 5200 screen businesses, providing work for around 24,000 people, and generating $3.5 billion annually.”