FAQ's 

Please see our Incentives and Benefits page for further information

Many factors combine to make Wellington THE best place for your next production.

• A diverse range of accessible locations
• Short travel time between locations
• Great talent and a skilled, experienced crew base
• The latest, competitively priced equipment
• World class studios and comprehensive post production facilities
• Main road street closures and specialised traffic management services
• A film friendly waterfront, ports, railway station and airport
• Central, conveniently located hotels. Contact us for a customised referral.
• A huge variety of fantastic food and entertainment
• Film Wellington’s free services connect you to the people, tools and knowledge you need to make your film a success
• Film Wellington has had the pleasure of working with many amazing productions. See our Made in Wellington section for more information.

All film permits are subject to the standard terms and conditions of filming and can be found here.

Note: the permit process is free, but location fees may apply.

Yes. Film permits are required for most production projects. Film Wellington offers a fast permitting process for all locations in the Wellington region.

To film in any public place in Wellington requires a filming permit.  Public locations consist of parks, beaches, regional parks, the waterfront, cemeteries and playing fields/sports grounds but also include the Wellington Zoo, Civic Square, Newtown Park Stadium and any municipal and Council owned buildings.

Permits are free, but there may be a charge for the location or other services related to your filming (location fee, parking, traffic management, road closure).

With simple shoots, permits can usually be approved within 24 hours. However, more complex shoots, such as those requiring road closures or resource consents, can take longer. Contact us to find out more. If you need it tomorrow, contact us by phone now.

Film Wellington is not involved in hiring for The Hobbit.  However, we have been advised by the production company that only individuals in New Zealand with the legal right to work will be considered for employment on the film.  For more information on employment visas please check out the Immigration New Zealand website and the New Zealand Now website. www.newzealandnow.govt.nz and www.filmnz.com/production-guide/immigration.html

Film Wellington has been advised that casting calls for extras will be advertised in local newspapers.  Only people legally able to work in New Zealand will be considered.

Film Wellington does not serve as an employment agency however we do work to attract productions to the region.

Film Wellington does not make films or serve as an employment agency however we can offer the following suggestions:
If you are based in the Wellington region, apply to be included in our Industry Directory:
www.filmwellington.com/application-form/
Please also see the NZ Technicians Guild website: www.nztecho.com

Film Wellington is not an employment agency.  However, we suggest you seek opportunities on the following websites, among others:
www.thebigidea.co.nz
www.screenhub.co.nz

If you are new to New Zealand, you must have the legal right to work here before applying for any film work.  Most productions will not consider candidates who do not have a work visa or residency. Generally, individuals wanting to enter the industry work as volunteers on short films or music videos to gain local experience and contacts.
For more information on employment visas please check out the Immigration New Zealand website and the New Zealand Now website. www.newzealandnow.govt.nz and www.filmnz.com/production-guide/immigration.html

For more information on employment visas please check out the Immigration New Zealand website and the New Zealand Now website. www.newzealandnow.govt.nz and www.filmnz.com/production-guide/immigration.html

There are a number of casting agents who can give you advice on becoming an actor and/or extra. Search our Industry Directory for contacts who may be able to help.

Film Wellington has an extensive location library - we would be happy to add your location to this. Please contact us for more information.

Our office can provide suggestions depending on your budget level and specific needs.

Yes, Wellington has a highly skilled and experienced crew base – the result of years of high calibre filming projects based here in Wellington.

Please contact the local crew booking company to arrange crew.  They can be found here in our Industry Directory.

15-20 minutes

Usually 10 minutes drive but up to 20mins in heavy peak hour traffic.

Usually 10 minutes drive but up to 20mins in heavy peak hour traffic.

Most banks operate Monday to Friday 9:30am to 4:30pm. Some banks are open on Saturdays. Automated teller machines (ATM's) operate 24 hours. There are also foreign exchange bureaux in the central city.

Our unit of currency is the New Zealand Dollar which comes in denominations of 10, 20 and 50 cents and $1 and $2 coins. Our notes have the values of $5, $10, $20, $50 and $100. For an up to date currency conversion rate visit: www.xe.com

We drive on the left hand side of the road. Our vehicles are right hand drive. For more information about driving in New Zealand visit: Land Transport New Zealand.

Electricity is supplied at 230/240 volts (50 hertz). Most hotels and motels provide 110 volt AC sockets (rated 20 watts) for electric razors only. An adapter/converter will be needed for all other equipment. The power outlets use flat two or three pin plugs.

Ambulance, Fire and Police - dial 111

All goods and services in New Zealand attract GST of 15%, except those things purchased at duty free shops.

English and Te Reo are the official languages of New Zealand along with New Zealand sign language. New Zealand became the first country in the world to declare this as an official language in April 2006.

Public holiday information can be found here: www.ers.dol.govt.nz/holidays_act_2003/dates/2010_13.html

Smoking is prohibited in all bars, restaurants, cafes, casinos, offices and most hotels. However, most venues have designated outside areas provided.

Our international dialing code is: 0064 4
Our local area code is: 04
Directory assistance - National 018
Directory assistance - International 0172
Operator - National 010
Operator - International 0170

GMT/UTC +12.
From the end of September until the beginning of April daylight saving operates when clocks are put forward one hour. There are no time differences within New Zealand.
Wellington operates on New Zealand Standard Time (NZST), and our time difference can really benefit international productions. Work completed overnight in Wellington can be viewed the same day in the US or UK.
We are:
•    13 hours ahead of London
•    17 hours ahead of New York
•    4 hours ahead of Hong Kong
•    22 hours ahead of Mumbai

Wellington is a compact city which means getting around the region is quick, saving you time and money. Wellington's CBD is just two kilometres in diameter and you can walk from one side to the other in about 20 minutes.
The rest of the region is also easily accessible by road, rail and air. The region enjoys the best public transport infrastructure in New Zealand. For more information about public transport in the region please visit www.metlink.org.nz
Wellington Airport is only 15 minutes drive from central Wellington. It’s also just a few minutes away from Miramar’s world-class film facilities of Weta Digital, Weta Workshop, Park Road Post Production, Miniatures NZ, and Stone Street Studios

Unfortunately, no.  Our office is small and very busy so unfortunately we are not able to take on interns. 

Unlike the United States and Europe, New Zealand does not have a big culture of unpaid internships or voluntary work in the industry here.  Generally, individuals wanting to enter the industry work as volunteers on short films or music videos to gain experience and contacts.

Yes, there are several: The NZ Film and Television School, School of English, Film, Theatre and Media Studies at Victoria University, Massey University, School of Visual Arts and Design at Whitireia Polytechnic and The Bachelor of Creative Technologies at Weltec. For more information about these and other education opportunities in the region please visit www.educationwellington.co.nz

WIFT NZ has a student membership:  www.wiftnz.org.nz/
Script-to-Screen events are open to all:  www.script-to-screen.co.nz
48 Hours film making competition is open to all:  www.v48hours.co.nz

For all media enquiries, please contact Nicci Lock +64 4 382 0061.