Production at Auckland Film Studios set to expand after $35 million funding announcement

New Zealand’s fast expanding film industry has been boosted this week by the announcement of $35 million in funding to create two new sound stages at the Auckland Film Studios.

The funding for the West Auckland facility was announced on Tuesday, with $30 million coming from the Government and $5 million from Auckland Council.

Designed to simulate the region’s screen industry, the additions to the Auckland Council-owned facility in Henderson follows a successful application for COVID-19 infrastructure funding last year by Auckland Unlimited, the regional economic development and cultural agency.

Commenting on the expansion, Auckland Mayor Phil Goff stated “Auckland has established a strong reputation as a centre of excellence for film-making.

“The new investment in film studios expands facilities to meet the international demand to make new screen content here and will bring tens of millions in expenditure and jobs to the west Auckland area.

“Estimates are for up to 300 new production-related jobs and hundreds of indirect jobs in businesses across the city that support the film industry.

“The film industry brings high-paid, high-skilled jobs and creates a profile for the city. It’s the sort of industry that Auckland wants to promote.”

Along with the region’s other studio space, the one large and two smaller current sound stages at the Auckland Film Studios (AFS) are in high demand with AFS having been the backbone of the region’s screen production industry for decades - hosting dozens of international and domestic television series and commercials, and feature film productions.

In addition, numerous screen-related businesses are located nearby.

Initial design work for the AFS expansion was completed prior to the application, and with the Government’s funding confirmed final planning and preparation is underway ready for construction to start in the final quarter of this year. That construction work is expected to provide more than 100 additional jobs.

In the past two years, a number of required upgrades and refits have taken place at AFS, and in 2019 it was one of the key Auckland studio sites to be part of a world-class digital network upgrade through a partnership between Auckland Unlimited and Devoli. The network connects Auckland’s studios, production and post-production companies and means high quality large digital files commonly used in the screen industry can be transferred quickly and securely.

Movies and television filmed at Auckland Film Studios include The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Xena: Warrior Princess and Spartacus: War of the Damned.

Auckland Film Studios is managed on behalf of Auckland Council by Eke Panuku Development Auckland, and operated by Auckland Unlimited.

The project is expected to be complete by August 2022.

Images: Spartacus: War of the Damned is one of the productions to have been filmed at Auckland Film Studios (top) and the facility prior to the funding announcement (below).