On Location - The West Auckland Film Industry

The Future West-led Waitakere Ranges Local Board has fostered filming in the Local Board area with over 70 filming permissions in local parks each year. Filming takes place in parks and on beaches under the jurisdiction of the Local Board. Filming includes series such as Shannara, Power Rangers and 800 Words, to music videos, such as Taylor Swift’s “Out of the Woods” shot at Bethells Beach to commercials.This filming activity brought $79.8 million into the local economy in 2015, and there were 270 permanent film employees as many casuals and contractors who provide services for filming.Auckland-wide, there was $185 million benefit from filming and filming helped put Auckland on the international stage, with benefits to tourism and the economy in general.“Well-managed filming does not leave a footprint,” says parks portfolio holder Sandra Coney, “so is ideal in protecting the values of the heritage area while generating revenue. Filming depends on wonderful scenic locations so also helps protect wild areas from development.”The Board has set some parameters around filming, working to minimise vehicles and vehicle movements on beaches and developing a specific Dotterel Management Plan to protect endangered birds. These create “no go” areas and also set protocols around how people and vehicles behave round birds.In residential areas, the Board makes sure there is the minimum inconvenience to residents, but largely communities support filming and are interested in it.Filming promoting alcohol has been declined, to discourage any connect between drinking and swimming and water sports.