Auckland Film Studios

The Government announced in December 2013 that the Large Budget Screen Production Grant (LBSPG) and Screen Production Incentive Fund (SPIF) would be combined into one grant called the New Zealand Screen Production Grant (NZSPG). The New Zealand Film Commission administers the NZSPG on behalf of the Ministry for Culture and Heritage and the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.

The full criteria for the NZSPG will be published mid-May 2014. In the meantime, please read the Summary of Key Technical Criteria for international productions and New Zealand productions below.

NZSPG for International Productions including PDV Grant
Eligible formats (film, television and other non-feature film formats) can access a cash grant equivalent to 20% of Qualifying New Zealand Production Expenditure (QNZPE). The NZSPG includes the Post, Digital and Visual Effects Grant. To be eligible feature films must have QNZPE of at least NZ$15 million, TV and other non-feature film formats must have QNZPE of at least NZ$4 million and productions accessing the PDV Grant must have QNZPE of at least NZ$1 million. Only New Zealand resident companies can apply.

An additional 5% of QNZPE is available to a small number of productions that meet the significant economic benefits points test. See the Significant Economic Benefits Test Guidelines below for further details.

Previously the Large Budget Screen Production Grant offered 15% of QNZPE on all international productions.

Initial Assessment
It is not mandatory for applicants to obtain initial assessment of a production’s eligibility for a grant. However, it is highly recommended that international applicants who intend to apply for an additional 5% grant or for television and other non-feature film formats submit an application for initial assessment.

NZSPG for New Zealand Productions
Eligible formats (film, television and other non-feature film formats) demonstrating significant New Zealand content and meeting the relevant eligibility criteria can access a cash grant equivalent to 40% of QNZPE up to NZ$15 million (i.e. a grant of NZ$6 million).

New Zealand productions with QNZPE of more than NZ$15 million (“additional QNZPE”) may apply for a 40% grant on the additional QNZPE up to NZ$50 million QNZPE subject to meeting additional criteria and providing a share of income to the NZFC to reinvest in the screen sector. The grant on the additional QNZPE will be capped at NZ$14 million. Therefore, the total grant any New Zealand production can access is capped at NZ$20 million.

The amount of the grant for TV and other non-feature film formats has been increased from 20% to 40% of QNZPE on all New Zealand productions.

Provisional Certification
A Provisional Certificate may be requested. Certificates lapse six months from the date of issue, unless the production has started principal photography or key animation in that timeframe. The Provisional Application Form for New Zealand Productions is available below.

QNZPE
QNZPE is generally production expenditure spent by the applicant on:

Goods and services provided in New Zealand
The use of land located in New Zealand
The use of a good that is located in New Zealand at the time that the good is used in the making of the screen production

QNZPE includes fees and expenses of non-New Zealanders who work on the production in New Zealand, provided (in the case of non-cast members) they work on the production for at least 14 days. Further details on exclusions to QNZPE will be set out in the NZSPG Criteria.

For further information on the New Zealand Screen Production Grant please refer to the New Zealand Film Commission website here.