Our thoughts go out to everyone adversely affected by the recent weather. We have emailed all members with information that we hope will prove helpful if you are suffering from damage to your home or rental property, or you need assistance. Please check your Inbox if you haven’t already seen this.

Meanwhile, we remain in a state of flux with so many other things in the screen industry.

Although the Select Committee has come back with a revised Bill following submissions on Aotearoa New Zealand Public Media, we still do not know as of today what is happening with the proposed coming together of TVNZ and RNZ. An announcement is expected soon. You can read our submission here, and the revised Bill here. Little seems to have changed at first glance. Better Public Media NZ is doing its utmost best to prevent the whole thing being canned by Chris Hipkins. Even amongst many of its supporters—and certainly amongst its detractors—however, there is a general feeling that the Government hasn’t got it right, and that the best choice for now would be to take it off the agenda. One can only hope that if that were the case, the money taken from NZ On Air would go back, rather than go somewhere else.

Over at the New Zealand Film Commission, we understand that interviews have been held for a new CEO, but there is zero fact/rumour/gossip about any new appointment. The former CEO David Strong went on ‘special’ leave in April of 2022, so it’s now 10 months that the org. has been without a permanent head. Much hope was pinned on new NZFC Chair Alastair Carruthers to sort the mess out. I’d suggest he doesn’t have a lot of time left to right the boat before some in the industry start baying for his blood as well. There is, though, a new appointment to the NZFC board in lawyer, Jane Meares, who we understand will replace long-time legal beagle John McCay from Minter Ellison Rudd Watts, whose board term is coming to an end. You can read about Jane here.

Submissions have gone in to the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment/Ministry of Culture and Heritage on the Screen Sector Investment Review. Ours is here. Their proposals for changes prompted outright condemnation from most of the screen industry. Like the ANZPM plans, it’s now seen by many that staying with the status quo is a better outcome than anything that’s been put forward. There’s a sense of dread in some quarters about what MBIE/MCH come up with next. We should be finding out soon about this, too.

On a positive note, there is further movement on the Screen Industry Workers Act. MBIE announced today that registration is open for parties who wish to engage in collective bargaining. If you are interested in learning more go here. At the Guild we are now working on both education and feedback mechanisms on the Screen Industry Workers Act, so that you can understand and participate in shaping our approach to collective bargaining for directors, editors and assistant editors. More to come on this down the track.

In the meantime, we hope that from here on in, things improve for you all both personally and professionally. And remember, we are here to help members as much as we can, so do reach out if you need to.

Tui Ruwhiu
Executive Director

Last updated on 2 February 2023