Screen grant review leaves NZ film industry in ‘limbo’

Screen grant review leaves NZ film industry in ‘limbo’
Avatar: The Way of Water was the highest-profile beneficiary of the government’s NZ Screen Production Grant. (Image: Supplied)
Daniel Dunkley
The Hollywood blockbuster Avatar: The Way of Water has been a resounding box office success, raking in more than US$1 billion (NZ$1.57b) from moviegoers in its first few weeks in cinemas.The sci-fi epic, filmed in New Zealand, was the highest-profile beneficiary of the government’s NZ Screen Production Grant (NZSPG), a scheme designed to attract the biggest and best productions to the country with generous rebates.As James Cameron’s movie put NZ firmly back on the map as a major filming location, a government review could reshape th...

More Media

BusinessDesk appoints Jaime Lyth
News in Brief

BusinessDesk appoints Jaime Lyth

BusinessDesk continues to grow. 

Staff reporters 05 Nov 2025
Trade Me parent company appoints Owen Wilson as director
Finance

Trade Me parent company appoints Owen Wilson as director

Wilson was CE of $A30b Australian digital-property company Rea Group Ltd.

Staff reporters 04 Nov 2025
TVNZ’s new chair is a no-nonsense corporate dealmaker
News in Brief

TVNZ’s new chair is a no-nonsense corporate dealmaker

One of New Zealand’s most respected corporate dealmakers has been appointed chairman of TVNZ – the Government’s biggest move yet in the shake-up of the public broadcaster’s board and operation.Retiring Goldman Sachs NZ managing director and chief executive Andrew Barclay will rep...

Staff reporters 30 Sep 2025
Jim Grenon acquires more NZME shares
Markets

Jim Grenon acquires more NZME shares

NZME director Jim Grenon has acquired another one million NZME shares, according to a new NZX notice, and is moving closer to becoming the company’s biggest shareholder.The businessman now holds 34,694,802 shares of the media business, which owns the NZ Herald, representing a sta...

Staff reporters 26 Sep 2025