Rt Hon Winston Peters

New Zealand First Leader

Member of Parliament for Northland
15 AUGUST 2016

Big Profit Movies Should Repay NZ Taxpayer Hand-Outs

Disney should repay the $20 million subsidy it is expected to receive from New Zealand taxpayers for making Pete’s Dragon here, says New Zealand First Leader and Northland Member of Parliament Rt Hon Winston Peters.

“Warner Brothers grossed more than $1 billion in profit from The Hobbit, but while the New Zealand taxpayer coughed up $67 million to help them film it in this country, not a cent was repaid.

“The government also claimed 3000 jobs were created filming The Hobbit, yet documents New Zealand First obtained revealed this figure was just plucked out of the air.

“Taxpayer money is again being dished out for Pete’s Dragon.

“Like The Hobbit, this movie is expected to make massive amounts of money which means it’s only fair Disney repay the New Zealand taxpayer hand-out they will receive.

“Many enjoy the experience of taking part in making a movie, and productions will bring some income to towns, but it’s coming from the Kiwi taxpayer – this is just welfare to the big foreign corporates. Often people are quick to condemn welfare payments to individuals in this country, so why should we be giving away our tax dollars to the likes of Disney.

“New Zealand industries must wonder why they cannot obtain tax breaks when foreign companies such as Warner Brothers and Disney can,” Mr Peters says.

ENDS

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