Here We Go
We’ve got Trump in the White House again and billionaires running that country, LA’s still burning, and the war in Ukraine ongoing, while a tenuous ceasefire has been reached in Gaza.
On the domestic front, The Principles of the Treaty of Waitangi Bill is an expensive problem on the select committees’ agenda. It shouldn’t be there.
Christopher Luxon has reshuffled his cabinet to deal with our continuing economic problems, with the biggest loser Melissa Lee, former journalist and producer, resigned to the backbenches… for now.
The NZ broadcasting and wider media industry woes are likely to continue. Next on the block is the NZ Herald, Business Desk and Newstalk ZB. Read here. TVNZ still feels like a walking disaster, while at Warner Bros. Discovery the reality seems far more scripted than factual.
The Government has “put on hold” the Fair Digital News Bargaining Bill, citing developing events in Australia as a helpful determiner for a new way forward. Read here. More likely, they caved to the pressure from Google.
The Screen Production and Development Association (SPADA) is still declining to register for collective bargaining under the Screen Industry Workers Act (SIWA), even after a year of active effort from some guilds including us to encourage them to do so.
At the end of last year, DEGANZ made a submission on the Ministry of Culture and Heritage’s draft strategy Amplify. Read here. Our view is that without additional ongoing investment, the government’s aims aren’t achievable. One of those aims is to raise New Zealand’s position to be in the top 25 countries globally for culture and heritage soft power.
Over in the UK, Keir Starmer’s Labour Government has recognised that soft power is a hugely important driver of UK economic growth and security, which deepens their relationships, builds alliances and enhances their global influence. They have established a Soft Power Council and delivered a £60 million investment package to kick-start things. Read here. A Kiwi in the UK messaged me after I reposted the Variety article on Facebook, saying that many there consider the investment a pittance. But look at what just $50 million in Premium Fund funding did for NZ.
In our screen industry, for crew at least, there does seem to be a flow of international productions coming to our shores up to the middle of the year, and some domestic production, albeit much more modestly funded. But for above-the-line, things will continue to be tough, which is why we so desperately need additional funding.
It’s harder than ever to attract international investment into NZ production, including with international streamers who see us as too small a market to put production funding into. We don’t have enough philanthropists to go around, and private equity returns and tax advantages aren’t attractive enough for investors. Without the government stumping up with some solutions, the multi-million dollar question is: Where is additional funding going to come from? If you’ve got an answer to that dilemma, then this year could be rosier for us all.
There’s some light seeping through at the end of the tunnel, though.
I believe most New Zealanders understand that we have a tough 2025 ahead across all sectors. Inflation though is down, interest rates are coming down, and cost of living increases should slow.
The New Zealand Film Commission after four years of instability, which saw three CEOs and three chairs in that period, is finally righting itself. A significant restructure under current CEO Annie Murray sees a new approach and fresh blood on the smaller team, with new guidelines for development funding due in February. The NZFC Terms of Trade are under review and there will be changes there as well.
DEGANZ has been very vocal for change at NZFC across those four years, engaging with management and the board. I thank the current board and leadership team for the recent opportunities to be heard. They have listened. There’s a feeling of optimism in the screen industry air about the film commish that I haven’t experienced for quite some considerable period of time, even though funding is very tight.
A refreshed board at DEGANZ with an editor president in Ben Powdrell—the first since Peter Roberts stepped down in 2016—will drive us into the year ahead, facing the challenges and maximising the opportunities to come.
Welcome to 2025!
Tui Ruwhiu
Executive Director
Last updated on 24 January 2025
