Whether it’s enjoying Waiuku Theatre’s quirky rendition of Cinderella recently or going to a concert with friends, I love any kind of creative outing. So, it was easy to imagine being seated in the new Waikato Regional Theatre, waiting for the show to begin, during a behind-the-scenes tour of the facility last month.
Pamela Storey
The tour got me thinking about how our creative sector is thriving in the Waikato. In Hamilton, Boon have transformed Hamilton’s CBD with incredible works of art, brightening walls in streets and laneways. And our film industry is growing rapidly.
Film office Waikato Screen is doing a superb job supporting our film industry by creating opportunities and showcasing our region through productions such as Avatar – The Ways of Water, The Gone, and MineCraft. The premier of Ka Whawhai Tonu was held in Hamilton earlier this year; it’s gone on to be the most attended NZ film in the country this year.
A scene from Ka Whawhai Tonu
Waikato Screen nurtures relationships between the international film industry, government bodies, and the region’s vibrant communities. They’re providing opportunities for on set training for youth, creating jobs, showcasing our landscape, and enhancing our identity.
Research shows for every dollar spent on motion picture and sound recording activities in the region, there’s an estimated additional $1.77 worth of economic benefits created. That’s the direct economic activity of spending from the film production companies and by the businesses servicing the production. Take Te Aroha as an example: when The Gone was shot there in 2022, an estimated $1 million was injected into the town’s economy.
An Infometrics report shows the creative sector brought in $16.3 billion in the year to March 2023. That’s 4.3% of New Zealand’s total GDP. And it’s almost $10 billion more than in 2000 when the creative sector’s financial earnings were first documented.
When you think about those figures in light of the pandemic and economic slump, it seems the sector is pretty resilient and making a significant contribution to our economy. But what about funding for the industry?
Ka Whawhai Tonu (Struggle Without End) features Cliff Curtis, left, as Wi Toka and Te Wakaunua Te Kurapa, right, as Te Whenuanui. Photo: Supplied.
Waikato Regional Council has committed $575,000 to help Waikato Screen get up and running. And they’re proving their worth. But what of ongoing funding to ensure its long-term sustainability?
Film office manager Tracy Hampton spoke recently at the Economic Development NZ conference about the benefits for the rural regional growth in film and the role central Government can play in supporting the sector. Let’s face it: the funding challenges are real. Managing a business with multiple councils contributing (or, not contributing) in the current economic climate means they need central government investment.
So how do we ensure the sector is adequately funded? Should an entity like Waikato Screen receive NZ On Air or Creative NZ funding? Is there a role for regional support? Given its contribution not only to the economy, but from a cultural and social perspective, it seems like a no-brainer to provide funding, but as to who provides funding, and how much, is what we need to figure out so the show can go on.
Miriama Smith in the role of Hine-i-Tūrama. Photo: Supplied.
