Finance - Television
The main body providing public financing for the production of New Zealand television programmes is New Zealand On Air. Te Mangai Paho is the Maori (indigenous language and culture) broadcasting funding agency.
New Zealand On Air
New Zealand On Air has an annual television investment budget of NZ$60-62 million. Its statutory brief is to reflect and develop New Zealand identity and culture by promoting programmes about New Zealand and New Zealand interests; and by promoting Maori language and Maori culture.
New Zealand On Air also has a duty to ensure that a range of broadcasts is available to provide for the interests of women, children, people with disabilities, and minorities in the community (including ethnic minorities). It makes special provision for New Zealand drama and documentary production.
Funding
New Zealand On Air may make funding available to television programmes made under the provision of one of New Zealand's co-production agreements. It will always assess, however, the extent to which the programme reflects New Zealand identity and culture in its themes and characterisation.
Applications for Funding
An application to New Zealand On Air for production funding cannot be lodged unless the producer has a commitment from a New Zealand free-to-air broadcaster to purchase and screen the programme.
Screen Production Incentive Fund
The Screen Production Incentive Fund provides a grant to eligible New Zealand feature film, television and other format screen productions deemed to have significant New Zealand content.
For full details on this scheme please visit the Screen Production Incentive Fund page of this website.
Co-productions
A number of New Zealand production companies are experienced in producing feature films and television drama and documentary programmes with co-production partners. They have a range of production financing options in addition to the New Zealand Film Commission and New Zealand On Air (usually from offshore) which they would put together as a financing package for either a co-production or joint venture.
There are two types of co-production - official and unofficial.
Official
An official co-production is subject to the various government to government treaties that exist. New Zealand currently has treaties with Australia, Canada, France, United Kingdom, Ireland, Italy, Singapore, Germany, Spain, the Republic of Korea and the People's Republic of China. You can download copies of these treaties from the New Zealand Film Commission website. The regulatory authority is the New Zealand Film Commission.
The minimum participation is 20/80 or 30/70 funding/creative split in an official co-production. It is extremely unlikely to find funding within New Zealand under the treaty for a project that did not have either a New Zealand director or writer or is totally led from overseas.
For an official co-production it would be necessary to find a production partner within New Zealand who has experience working with overseas producers.
New Zealand On Air and New Zealand Film Commission funding is from government and forms the majority of New Zealand production funds. Television pay very little for license rights in New Zealand and there is limited private investment available.
Unofficial
Non New Zealand producers looking for funding are unlikely to find funding in this region for a production originated elsewhere. However, producers who want only to utilize crew and/or locations should contact a local production company with experience working with international producers or partners.
For further information, please visit New Zealand On Air or contact Film New Zealand.
