Hobbit movies to be made in New Zealand
Prime Minister John Key this evening announced an agreement has been reached between the New Zealand Government and Warner Bros that will enable the two Hobbit movies to be directed by Sir Peter Jackson to be made in New Zealand.
"I am delighted we have achieved this result," Mr Key says. "Making the two Hobbit movies here will not only safeguard work for thousands of New Zealanders, but it will also follow the success of the Lord Of The Rings trilogy in once again promoting NZ on the world stage."
As part of the arrangement the Government will introduce legislation in Parliament tomorrow to clarify the distinction between independent contractors and employees as it relates to the film production industry. It is this clarification that will guarantee the movies are made in New Zealand.
"The industrial issues that have arisen in the past several weeks have highlighted a significant set of concerns for the way in which the international film industry operates," Mr Key says.
"We will be moving to ensure that New Zealand law in this area is settled to give film producers like Warner Bros the confidence they need to produce their movies in this country."
Mr Key confirmed the Government has also moved to widen the qualifying criteria for the Large Budget Screen Production Fund to improve New Zealand's competitiveness as a film destination for large budget films like The Hobbit.
The impact of this will mean an additional rebate for The Hobbit movies of up to US$7.5 million per picture, subject to the success of those movies.
The Government and Warner Bros have agreed to work together in a long-term strategic partnership to promote New Zealand as both a film production and tourism destination.
"My Government is determined to use the opportunity that the Hobbit movies present to highlight New Zealand as a great place to visit, as well as a great place to do business," Mr Key says.
The strategic marketing opportunities for New Zealand from the movies will be worth tens of millions of dollars. The Government will offset US$10 million of Warner Bros marketing costs as part of the strategic partnership.
New Zealand will also host one of the world premieres of the Hobbit movies.
"It's good to have the uncertainty over, and to have everyone now full steam ahead on this project."
"I'm very pleased that we have been able to ensure that the winning combination of Sir Peter Jackson, New Line, Warner Bros, MGM and New Zealand as a whole will have the opportunity to produce these movies together," Mr Key says.
This is fantastic news for the New Zealand film industry, the tourism industry and the economy in general. Despite the best efforts of NZAE, the MMEA and the CTU, the government has managed to keep the project on track. Well done to all those who have fought to achieve this goal.
Decision time for The Hobbit? There's a media conference at the Beehive theatrette at 7.20pm this evening, so watch this space ...
UPDATE: 7.20PM - The two Hobbit movies will be made in New Zealand, and legislation will be introduced into Parliament tomorrow.
John Key 1; CTU Nil!
More to follow soon
9 comments:
yep we're a great place to do business in alright. Mexicans with cellphones - that's us. you say jump and we say how high sir?
so what about all the other exporters who are suffering because of our high dollar? will they also now get a tax rebate?
Yeah right.
santa.
I could have guessed that you would see the negative side Santa. You really are a sad creature; do you need to get out more?
IV2
The ungracious bastards like Santa must be cruising the net moaning like a cat spraying .
Good to see you got the press release out.
Pauleastbay
Cheers for that Pauleastbay; I'd love to say that JK sent me the presser from his Blackberry, but I'm far too modest, and not as well connected as DPF :)
it's a fair call from santa though don't you think?
It's a heck of a lot of money and meddling with the laws for 500 million investment. I'm sure the blokes at F & P would have appreciated that when their jobs went to Mexico.
It's good news, sure, but the in the bigger economic picture it's really only a gold-plated bandaid.
Tom.
A heck of a lot of money? It's $4.46 per man, woman and child in New Zealand Tom. But I'll tell you what; I'll pay your share if you don't want to; sheesh, it's only the cost of a latte ...
Heck of a lot of money my arse.
I was surprised at how small the amount was.
The weird thing is that this sort of news will be a positive driver of business sentiment in NZ.
That means people like me, SME owners, will make captial expenditure and possibly employing more staff.
If the Hobbit hadn't been retained then the opposite would have happened.
At the end the money was dwarfed by the almost free publicity that this deal will generate for New Zealand's international image. The bonus was the exposure as to the almost total irrelevance of trade unions in this the 21st century.
And sadly their most pressing issue is the totally reasonable extension of the 90 day trial employment law as a positive factor in getting those with a dubious work record into jobs.
The desperation of the socialists is compelling evidence of their death wriggle, aint it grand.
Good to hear this one. At least investments on production does not go to waste and actors have their fair share.
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