Inward screen investment generated NZ$1.35 billion in total spend from 2019 to 2021. The New Zealand Film Commission supported 620 direct jobs in 2021, with its funding creating a 2.6x multiplier effect on GDP. These growth figures exist alongside a workforce where 64% of employers report difficulty recruiting skilled crew.
Key Takeaways
- NZFC reported 620 screen jobs supported directly through funding programs in 2021 (employment supported count)
- Netflix available in New Zealand from 2015 (platform entry year, for time series context)
- The global theatrical film market grew to about US$100+ billion in 2023 (global benchmark used for NZ cinema economics context)
- NZ$1.35 billion New Zealand total spend from inward screen investment (visitor expenditure + production spend) estimated for 2019–2021 across the screen sector (NZFC sector measure)
- NZ$240 million total production spend in New Zealand from major international productions announced/filmed in 2019–2020 (screen industry investment tracker)
- 3.3% real GDP growth for New Zealand in 2021 (macroeconomic context used in NZIER screen sector model year baseline)
- 4.1% of New Zealand’s total exports by value were media and creative services-related in 2021 (Stats NZ trade classification includes film/TV recording and other media)
- 1.4 million international visitors to New Zealand in 2022 (tourism demand context for location filming and production support markets)
- $NZ 118.4 million in NZFC production funding in 2022 (production grants amount)
- New Zealand released 160 short films in 2022 (short film release count)
- New Zealand produced 1,200 hours of original TV drama/documentary content in 2022 (program hours reported by Screen sector data compilation)
- 74% of New Zealanders aged 15–24 use YouTube in 2022 (platform adoption for video consumption)
- 46% of households reported using a smart TV in 2023 (enables streaming adoption)
- New Zealand’s Screen Sector Skills Plan identified 1,000+ roles with shortages or recruitment challenges (roles count from the skills assessment)
- 64% of employers in the screen sector reported difficulty recruiting skilled crew in 2022 (employer survey on hiring challenges)
NZFC funding in 2022 supported hundreds of projects and thousands of screen jobs, boosting New Zealand’s economy and production capacity.
Related reading
01 · Category
Workforce & Skills7 stats
01
New Zealand’s Screen Sector Skills Plan identified 1,000+ roles with shortages or recruitment challenges (roles count from the skills assessment)
02
64% of employers in the screen sector reported difficulty recruiting skilled crew in 2022 (employer survey on hiring challenges)
03
Ethnic minority practitioners comprised 18% of the screen workforce (2019/2020 diversity baseline)
04
56% of screen workers reported needing more training opportunities to advance careers (survey-based skills need)
05
New Zealand screen apprenticeship pathways produced 180 graduates in 2022 from screen-related training programs (graduation output)
06
Polytechnic and industry training providers delivered 3,600+ training enrolments in film/TV production-related courses in 2022 (enrolments)
07
The NZ Screen Industry’s health and safety guidance is aligned with 2020 regulations for high-risk work and requires site safety plans for productions above defined risk thresholds (threshold percentage-based requirement)
Interpretation
Workforce & Skills Interpretation
In New Zealand’s Screen Workforce and Skills, shortages are clearly affecting hiring with 64% of employers struggling to recruit skilled crew in 2022, while only 180 apprenticeship graduates and 3,600+ training enrolments in 2022 suggest the supply pipeline still needs to scale to meet the 56% of workers who report needing more training to advance.
02 · Category
Industry Trends4 stats
01
NZFC reported 620 screen jobs supported directly through funding programs in 2021 (employment supported count)
02
Netflix available in New Zealand from 2015 (platform entry year, for time series context)
03
The global theatrical film market grew to about US$100+ billion in 2023 (global benchmark used for NZ cinema economics context)
04
Otago and Southland hosted 10% of inward-investment production days in 2019–2020 (regional split)
Interpretation
Industry Trends Interpretation
Under industry trends, New Zealand’s screen sector shows momentum as NZFC supported 620 direct screen jobs in 2021, with regions like Otago and Southland taking 10% of inward investment production days in 2019 to 2020 while the wider global theatrical market reached about US$100+ billion by 2023 and Netflix has been available since 2015.
03 · Category
Market Size4 stats
01
3.3% real GDP growth for New Zealand in 2021 (macroeconomic context used in NZIER screen sector model year baseline)
02
4.1% of New Zealand’s total exports by value were media and creative services-related in 2021 (Stats NZ trade classification includes film/TV recording and other media)
03
1.4 million international visitors to New Zealand in 2022 (tourism demand context for location filming and production support markets)
04
1,200+ film and TV-related businesses in New Zealand (estimated) in 2023/24 IBISWorld
Interpretation
Market Size Interpretation
With real GDP growing 3.3% in 2021, media and creative services making up 4.1% of New Zealand’s exports, 1.4 million international visitors in 2022, and 1,200+ film and TV businesses in 2023 to 2024, the market size for the screen industry is supported by both strong demand drivers and a sizable business base.
More related reading
04 · Category
Production Volume4 stats
01
$NZ 118.4 million in NZFC production funding in 2022 (production grants amount)
02
New Zealand released 160 short films in 2022 (short film release count)
03
New Zealand produced 1,200 hours of original TV drama/documentary content in 2022 (program hours reported by Screen sector data compilation)
04
New Zealand completed 210 TV series episodes during 2022 that used NZFC-supported production (episode completion count)
Interpretation
Production Volume Interpretation
In the production volume category, New Zealand backed a strong stream of local output in 2022 with NZFC funding reaching NZ$118.4 million, 1,200 hours of original TV drama and documentary content produced, and 210 NZFC supported TV series episodes completed.
05 · Category
Economic Impact2 stats
01
NZ$1.35 billion New Zealand total spend from inward screen investment (visitor expenditure + production spend) estimated for 2019–2021 across the screen sector (NZFC sector measure)
02
NZ$240 million total production spend in New Zealand from major international productions announced/filmed in 2019–2020 (screen industry investment tracker)
Interpretation
Economic Impact Interpretation
Economic impact in New Zealand’s screen industry is clearly significant, with inward screen investment totaling NZ$1.35 billion for 2019–2021 alongside NZ$240 million in local production spend from major international projects in 2019–2020.
06 · Category
Industry Overview5 stats
01
74% of New Zealanders aged 15–24 use YouTube in 2022 (platform adoption for video consumption)
02
46% of households reported using a smart TV in 2023 (enables streaming adoption)
03
NZFC approved funding for 420 projects in 2022
04
NZFC screen funding direct economic activity multiplier effect of 2.6x on New Zealand GDP (model estimate)
05
2.7 million New Zealand households had an active internet connection in 2023
Interpretation
Industry Overview Interpretation
New Zealand’s screen industry is being strengthened by widespread streaming readiness, with 74% of 15 to 24 year olds using YouTube in 2022 and 46% of households using smart TVs in 2023, supported by strong funding activity such as NZFC approving 420 projects in 2022.
report visual · Comparison
Hiring challenges and workforce needs in New Zealand’s screen sector
A majority of employers report difficulty recruiting skilled crew, and over half of workers say they need more training opportunities to advance.
New Zealand’s Screen Sector Skills Plan identified 1,000+ roles with shortages or recruitment challenges (roles count fr1,000
64% of employers in the screen sector reported difficulty recruiting skilled crew in 2022 (employer survey on hiring cha
64%
56% of screen workers reported needing more training opportunities to advance careers (survey-based skills need)
56%
source-verifiednzu.org.nz · nzfilm.co.nz2022
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Kevin O'Brien. (2026, February 13). New Zealand Screen Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/new-zealand-screen-industry-statistics
MLA
Kevin O'Brien. "New Zealand Screen Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/new-zealand-screen-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Kevin O'Brien. 2026. "New Zealand Screen Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/new-zealand-screen-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
26 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
+16 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)