Rodney region major destination for film industry

By Rod CheesemanThe Rodney region is now one of the top three most popular destinations for screen production in the Auckland region.

According to Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development (ATEED), more than 66 film permits were issued for 39 public locations in Rodney over the last year.

Television programmes such as 800 Words, The Brokenwood Mysteries and Ash vs Evil Dead were the most frequent users of local public spaces.

Former Warkworth Area Business Association secretary Nicola Jones says they have always accommodated film crews.

“We’ve had filming along Elizabeth Street, at the Courthouse, and the real estate agents on the corner of Kapanui Street and Queen Street. It’s a bit of an inconvenience but people love to see the programme and say ‘oh that’s Warkworth’,” Nicola says.

Warkworth vies with Muriwai beach and Taupaki for the most popular location. Fans of the award-winning 800 words will know that the local beach in the series is shot at Muriwai, while the local shops in the series’ fictional town of Weld are actually Warkworth’s.

Locations manager for the series Rick Waite says Warkworth was used from the very first pilot show.

“It’s close enough to Auckland for the cast and crew to get to, but still has the small town look about it,” Rick says.

The producers have stuck with the Warkworth location and visit there once every couple of episodes.

They have already shot the area eight times for this series and have two more shoots left before wrapping up. Rick says Warkworth isn’t an easy place to film in.

“We are trying to create the sleepy town of Weld and Warkworth is actually quite a busy little town. In order for us to try and create the illusion – we require traffic control and the ability to control parking. This can sometimes upset locals and test their patience with us being in town.”

Katie Flannigan is the acting manager of ATEED’s film branch, Screen Auckland, and says that in order for them to issue filming consents they need local backing.

“The Rodney Local Board has been very supportive of the Auckland screen sector by working closely with Screen Auckland and production [companies] to ensure the impacts of filming activities on local communities and businesses are minimised,” Katie says.

Figures from Statistics New Zealand estimate that in the 2015 financial year, the screen production industry generated more than $900 million in Auckland.

Under the region-wide film fee structure implemented by Auckland Council last year, a proportion of the proceeds from film permit fees go back to the local community via local boards. The amount for each board region won’t be publicly available until after the end of the financial year.

Katie says it is not just local boards that profit from the area becoming a preferred screen location.

“Productions can benefit local businesses, including suppliers of everything from transport and catering, to set building supplies, and can also directly or indirectly create local jobs.”

But Nicola Jones isn’t convinced of any major economic improvement for the area.

“It’s not bringing business into town because it doesn’t say ‘this is Warkworth’. They are creating a fictional place so there is no major spike in economic development from it. We support it because it’s a national industry. I’d be surprised if Warkworth became the next Matamata! If it does end up bringing film tourism to the town, we would welcome that.”