Hon Iain Lees-Galloway
Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety
MEDIA STATEMENT
17 October 2018
Film Industry Working Group report welcomed
The Film Industry Working Group has reported back today, providing recommendations on restoring collective bargaining
rights to film production workers, says the Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety Iain Lees-Galloway.
The Working Group was set up at the beginning of this year with representation from across the screen industry, Business
New Zealand and the Council of Trade Unions.
“The Government is fully supportive of New Zealand’s screen sector and its desire to remain a premium and attractive hub
for film production and innovation,” says Iain Lees-Galloway.
“The Coalition Government asked the Film Industry Working Group to come up with a model that would restore rights to
bargain collectively, while also allowing workers to continue as contractors if they want to.
“The members have unanimously recommended arrangements that they feel will be suitable for the screen sector and those
who work in it. I thank the members of the working group and facilitator Linda Clark for their work.
“The Film Industry Working Group is a great example of the collaborative and constructive relationship between
businesses and workers that this Government wants to encourage.
“I’ve heard from working group members that the process has been very positive, bringing together the many different
parts of the screen industry, encouraging them to have a voice, and providing a forum to gain greater understandings of
each other’s needs.
“The Government will now consider and respond to the recommendations. Any necessary law changes would be introduced next
year and go through the normal legislative process,” says Iain Lees-Galloway.
Read the Film Industry Working Group’s report here: https://www.mbie.govt.nz/info-services/employment-skills/legislation-reviews/film-industry-working-group
Members of the Film Industry Working Group:
Linda Clark, Facilitator (Kensington Swan)
Alex Lee, Film Auckland
Alice Shearman, New Zealand Writers Guild
Augie Davis, Stunt Guild of New Zealand
Barrie Osborne, film producer
Brendan Keys, Weta Digital
Erina Tamepo, Ngā Aho Whakaari
Melissa Ansell-Bridges, Equity New Zealand
Michael Brook, Regional Film Offices New Zealand
Paul Mackay, BusinessNZ
Richard Fletcher, Screen Production and Development Association
Richard Wagstaff, New Zealand Council of Trade Unions
Sioux Macdonald, Screen Industry Guild
Tui Ruwhiu, Directors and Editors Guild of New Zealand
[ends]