Hollywood stars and film pitches as Waikato targets big screen

Thursday, 13 February 2025

Minecraft, featuring Jason Momoa and Jack Black, did some of its filming in the Waikato District.

Jason Momoa filming in Waikato and chats with Hollywood execs are among the signs of success in a push to grow the region’s film industry.

Waikato Screen was created to rev up the local sector and is one of 11 regional film offices in NZ. The group detailed the past year’s results in a report to Hauraki District Council’s community partnerships committee.

However, with some councils no longer funding Waikato Screen, the group warned it could put a handbrake on progress.

The film office received 47 production enquiries in 2024, up from 37 the previous year, with filmmakers seeking permits, location details and crew, a report says.

Netflix series Beyond Goodbye was being filmed in Raglan in January 2024. George's Beach Club served as a base for equipment.

Major productions are already happening in the region, including Minecraft - featuring Jason Momoa and Jack Black, Netflix’s Beyond Goodbye in Waikato District, Celebrity Treasure Island in Thames-Coromandel, and The Gone 2 in Matamata-Piako, its report says.

Some remain under wraps - a Netflix series in Thames-Coromandel and a 20th Century Studios feature in Waitomo. Plus the organisation supported various commercials, music videos and streaming series.

Te Kūiti and Putāruru have been pitched as key locations for an upcoming feature film and Waikato Screen is awaiting confirmation on “a large international production in Thames”.

Three councils have chosen not to fund Waikato Screen this year, a report says. Pictured is filming of Beyond Goodbye in Raglan in January 2024.

The film office also hosted “recces” including one that supported “a pitch for a feature film of a known NZ director and international producer in which we showcased the Waikato, OTDC and Waitomo district as potential locations”.

A trip to Los Angeles with the New Zealand Film Commission also allowed Waikato Screen’s Erin Griffiths to meet “top Hollywood producers and studios”, the report said.

The organisation has also worked to grow local industry talent with local workshops, is looking into a Māori film making group, and has given career talks in schools and arranged for students to visit the set of Minecraft.

Film crew members can now register through the Waikato Screen website, which now has 140 signed up: 66% more than in 2023.

Despite the successes, the report highlights key challenges, including regulatory hurdles, competition from other regions, talent retention and securing long-term funding.

“While we are grateful for the financial support of most of our councils, we face challenges with three councils that have chosen not to fund Waikato Screen this year,” the report said.

“Securing support from all Waikato councils is critical to achieving our vision of a unified regional approach that fully capitalises on the continual screen sector’s growth.

“By solidifying our position as a premier film destination, we can attract larger productions, enhance regional visibility and maximise economic impact.”

This story was sourced from official documents and generated using a bespoke AI tool overseen and checked by senior journalists.