Government Confirms $577m Pledge For International Screen Production Rebate

The New Zealand screen sector's future will feel considerably brighter for many involved, after the Government declared its ongoing support of the International Screen Production Rebate.

The announcement was made by Economic Growth Minister Nicola Willis on Friday (16 May) at Sir Peter Jackson’s Stone Street Studios in Wellington as part of a pre-Budget tour.
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“The Budget increase of $577 million across this year and the next four takes total funding for the rebate scheme to $1.09 billion over the forecast period, better reflecting expected demand for the scheme. Settings remain unchanged,” Willis states.

The Minister expresses the investment will help bring investment, jobs and income to New Zealand, boosting our economic growth.

“We are sending a clear message to the world: New Zealand is the best place in the world to make movies.  Bring your productions here to take advantage of our talent and locations."

“The rebate scheme is working and we want New Zealand’s film industry to know the Government is backing them to grow into the future."

“At last count our screen sector provided work for about 24,000 people and generated about $3.5 billion in annual revenue."

Screen lobbyists like SPADA have been active since the change of Government to underline the importance of the rebate to the sector - which she spelt out on The Big Idea at the start of the year. This announcement will come as a relief to many, given the budgetary pressures on so many other elements of central goverment funding.

Willis admits “While industry incentives are not generally our favoured approach, the reality is we simply won’t get the offshore investment in our highly successful screen sector without continuing this scheme."

“New Zealand competes with more than 100 territories world-wide that provide screen incentives, including countries like Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom that provide more generous incentives than ours."

In a statement provided to The Big Idea, NZ Film Commission CEO, Annie Murray adds “The NZFC welcomes the support of the Government and that it clearly values the $3.5 billion contribution the industry makes to Aotearoa.

"We’re doing everything we can to grow the sector further and are currently halfway through a global trade mission to Mumbai, London and Cannes focussed on getting more Kiwi films made, helping them find international success and bringing more overseas productions to New Zealand.”

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Willis breaks down how - and why - the rebate works:

• “Eligible productions can access a 20% cash rebate on qualifying New Zealand production expenditure where production costs are more than $15 million for feature films and $4 million for TV productions.
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• ”A further 5% rebate is available to productions spending more than $30 million which meet additional criteria for industry and economic growth.
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• “Inbound productions invested nearly $7.5 billion in New Zealand in the past 10 years, supported by $1.5 billion in rebate payments.
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• “Following a review of the rebate settings completed in late-2023, 10 big international productions have been attracted here, including eight from the major Hollywood studios. They include A Minecraft Movie, the second highest-grossing film of 2025 so far, and Taika Waititi’s Klara and the Sun now in production.
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• “Along with investment and jobs, New Zealand has benefited from acquiring a highly skilled screen industry workforce. Film production companies provide work for thousands of people and create fantastic opportunities for young New Zealanders.
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• “The Government will continue to work with the New Zealand Film Commission to ensure we continue to attract high-value productions from around the world.”

SPADA President Irene Gardiner responded to the news through social media with- "Well, kind of!"

While acknowledging it's good to support the international productions coming in, Gardiner notes "It's great for the NZ economy, and it does also help our domestic screen sector by creating jobs and training opportunities.

"But, unfortunately, it's not about supporting local content or New Zealand intellectual property.

"The international and domestic sectors need and feed each other, and it is important that they are both strong. SPADA has been advocating for some minor enhancements to the domestic Screen Production Rebate to make more productions eligible, which would significantly help us at a very challenging time for local production, following a severe advertising decline caused in large degree by overseas streaming agencies operating here without regulation."

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Photo: Unsplash.

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