New Zealand

It has been relatively quiet in New Zealand for screen production in 2025, after the flurry of major theatrical projects landing in the South Pacific nation in 2024.

New Zealand has played host to Paramount’s Heart Of The Beast starring Brad Pitt and directed by David Ayer, filming at Lake Wakatipu and Mt Aspiring national park in Otago, a southern region on New Zealand’s South Island. “Confidentiality is critical to our work,” notes Philippa Mossman, head of international attraction and marketing, New Zealand Film Commission (NZFC). “NZFC assisted with a low-key entry into New Zealand for Brad Pitt and it was a week before the media reported he was [here].”

That commitment to discretion is part of the draw for A-listers and overseas filmmakers alike with NZFC at the heart of bringing filmmakers to New Zealand. Alongside providing grants, loans and equity investment to New Zealand filmmakers and businesses, it also oils the cogs for international producers and filmmakers.

Mossman and the team are used to the quirks and foibles of filmmakers. One producer of an unscripted survivalist series wanted land-based natural predators. But New Zealand does not have bears, big cats, crocodiles or snakes and there is only one spider that is a danger to humans. Even that is an endangered species. “People might encounter a wild boar in remote bushland, possums hiss in an intimidating way and the sandfly season can be annoying,” notes Mossman. There have been approvals processed for importing camels and wolves for projects.

Bottom-line enquiries are most common for NZFC with questions about budgeting for crew rates and rebate criteria. The international rebate applies to inbound cast and crew as well as locals.

It is also important for incoming productions to consider the protocols in place for connecting with Māori cultural values. Such considerations are inherent with filming in New Zealand and span traditional welcomes through to project and location blessings. Location managers are on hand to connect the productions with the iwi/hāpu (tribes with guardianship in the region).

Filming in New Zealand in 2025 has been The Ridge, a six-part psychological thriller set between Scotland and New Zealand, starring Lauren Lyle and Jay Ryan. The show is produced by New Zealand’s Great Southern Studios and Glasgow-­based Sinner Films for BBC Scotland and Sky New Zealand Originals. 

Other recent projects to shoot have included Universal/Blumhouse horror revamp Wolf Man; thriller Heart Eyes, directed by Josh Ruben for Spyglass; box-office smash A Minecraft Movie; and Blumhouse sci-fi horror sequel M3GAN 2.0. Expectations are building that the global success of Warner’s A Minecraft Movie will mean a sequel built in New Zealand.

Recent New Zealand co-productions have included I, Object (with Canada) and Irish TV series The Gone.

Meanwhile, James Cameron continues work on his Avatar series, with the third film, Avatar: Fire And Ash, due for release in December.

New Zealand’s production infrastructure continues to expand. Studio capacity has increased with Auckland Film Studios now open, and new facilities at Studio West alongside Kumeu Film Studios and X3.  All facilities in Wellington, including the Wētā group of companies and Park Road Post, are located centrally. There are also the well-established Stone Street Studios and Lane Street Studios.

New Zealand is an overnight direct flight from Los Angeles and is equivalent in size to the state of California. Its main production bases are Auckland and Wellington, with a smaller hub in Queenstown and growing infrastructure in Christchurch. 

The country is made up of two main islands offering a large variety of locations within short distances.

South Island is a filming favourite with its pristine and prehistoric environs, Auckland continues to attract a variety of productions and its thriving creative sector employs the largest pool of talent in the screen industry. 

Wellington makes for an easy filmmaking experience, the compact capital city having played host to large, international studio-based productions including the Avatar films. It is known as New Zealand’s creative capital and is recognised by Unesco as a City of Film for its rich and diverse screen activity.

First contact: Philippa Mossman, head of international attraction and marketing, New Zealand Film Commission philippa.mossman@nzfilm.co.nz