Boosting global screen competitiveness

From 1 January 2026, the changes will:

• Lower the minimum spend feature films need to qualify for the rebate, from $15 million to $4 million, whether for television, cinema or streaming.
• Reduce the threshold for productions to access the extra ‘5% Uplift’, from $30 million to $20 million, to help attract more mid-budget productions.
• Expand eligibility for the extra ‘5% Uplift’ to include post-production, digital and visual effects (PDV)-only projects.
• Remove the cap on how much international productions can claim for above-the-line roles, such as director, producer, principal cast, or screenwriter.

The changes are designed to reflect shifts in the industry, including the rise of streaming platforms and new technologies like Artificial Intelligence.

The updated settings will attract a broader range of productions, increase foreign investment, and provide more steady work for New Zealanders. The updates also aim to diversify export markets by encouraging productions from Asia and the Middle East, alongside existing relationships with major US studios.

New Zealand’s screen sector contributes approximately $3.5 billion annually to the Gross Domestic Product and supports around 24,000 jobs. Since 2020, 42 international live-action productions have received the international rebate, employing over 21,000 local cast and crew.

Read the Minister’s press release:

Boosting New Zealand’s film industry(external link) — Beehive.govt.nz