Aotearoa New Zealand’s screen sector today launches the Screen Sector Strategy 2030, a 10-year roadmap designed to grow
the sector’s resilience, collaboration and capability.
The development of the Strategy spanned more than 15 months, starting when the Prime Minister on behalf of the
Government called for the creation of a 10-year strategy for the New Zealand screen sector. A facilitation group, made
up of representatives from across the sector and led by an independent chair, came together to engage with the whole
sector and to guide the strategy’s development. Consultation with the sector took place via a series of nationwide hui,
many smaller workshops as well as hundreds of written submissions.
The 10-year strategic framework is built around five core long-term goals aimed at enhancing the sector’s collaboration,
content, capability, contribution and culture.
Given the pace of change confronting local and global screen sectors, the Strategy also outlines an initial three-year
plan which lays the groundwork for reaching the overarching goals. The three-year plan looks to:
Strengthen existing, and secure new, funding and investmentWork with the Government to modernise the regulation that shapes the sectorAccelerate development and protection of home-grown intellectual property for local and global audiencesFoster business growth and increased business acumen across the sectorIdentify and agree on a structure and establish a body for pan-sector representationEncourage greater coordination and consensus to strengthen the Government-sector relationshipDevelop a national screen infrastructure plan and create easier, clearer rules on access to filming locationsRe-establish a survey for evaluating the sector’s performance and progressBoost the sector’s capacity and capabilityRefresh the sector’s environmental sustainability programme and create a social sustainability and wellbeing framework
Screen Sector Strategy facilitation group chair Miriam Dean says a number of strong themes emerged from the sector-wide
engagement including the need for greater collaboration within the sector and between the screen sector and government;
creating more home grown content for the international market and greater focus on intellectual property development;
and growing screen sector businesses, infrastructure and the size, diversity and capability of the screen workforce.
While the disruption caused by COVID-19 highlighted the importance of a cohesive sector and the fragility of the sector
to economic shock, it was important to focus on the long-term opportunities which the strategy highlights.
“A resurgent screen sector can play a key role in New Zealand’s much-needed economic recovery and future growth,” says
Miriam Dean.
It was also important to note that the strategy is a starting point and not a finish line.
“This strategy is intended to be a living framework that can be updated, and its scope and ambitions expanded, as the
sector matures and develops,” she says.
“We have been greatly encouraged by the level and depth of discussion, the liveliness and passion of the dialogue and
breadth of feedback which the screen sector strategy process generated and are grateful to all those who contributed.”