Hon Jim Anderton

24 September 2002 Speech Notes

Launch of Auckland and Waitakere film partnership

Tuesday, 24 September 2002

Launch of “Location Auckland and Waitakere’

Wintergarden, Civic Theatre

Auckland

It is appropriate that I have come to this launch from meeting with the Auckland Regional Economic Development Strategy group and regional mayors.

The launch of “location Auckland and Waitakere’ and the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding demonstrate partnership and cooperation to achieve economic goals.

Being here today is also significant because the screen production and film industries are crucial to the innovation strategy of the Government.

The Labour Progressive Government is working with industries, which base their success on innovation and creativity.

New Zealand has a strong competitive advantage in creative industries and it is these industries, which have some of the greatest potential to create long term sustainable growth.

There are two taskforces working on creative industries. One represents the design industry and the other film and screen production.

- Visit to the LOTR production - swords using kiwi ingenuity.

Last week I chaired the Screen Production Industry Taskforce and we reaffirmed the goal of doubling foreign exchange earnings from an estimated $200 million to $400 million in the next five years.

The intention is also to increase the number of production houses with a turnover of $50 million to ten, and the number of production companies with a turnover of $10 million to twenty companies.

The government expects the industry to identify any barriers to achieving these goals with the Government. It is the film industry experts that know their industry and can tell the Government how we can help.

A number of key issues were raised and over the coming months, intellectual property, distribution and marketing and industry training will be addressed.

I am pleased to see the creation of Film Auckland, and the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Waitakere City Council, Enterprise Waitakere and the Auckland City Council. It is a positive sign that the agreement is designed to be inclusive of the other regional TLA’s when they are ready and willing to sign.

There has been significant growth in the amount of foreign investment in film and screen production attracted to New Zealand. Most of this is from the United States and Canada.

Since 1994 foreign investment has grown from $44 million to $486 million.

I have done my bit by allowing one foreign film company to use my Wellington residence the Government owned Vogel House for a children’s TV show. The funds from the location fees have gone towards upgrading Vogel House.

Building on the success and profile of Hercules: the Legendary Journeys; Xena: Warrior Princess, Vertical Limit and Lord of the Rings means we can grow international involvement in our film and screen industries significantly.

As an avid film fan I look forward to seeing more shots of Auckland and Waitakere in the background of internationally released block busters and other films.

ENDS

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