A proposed film park in the outskirts of Wanaka could be as beneficial for the region as the Lord of the Rings trilogy was, supporters say.

It was revealed yesterday (Wednesday March 3) that Auckland company Silverlight Studios has a conditional offer to purchase 332ha near Wanaka Airport with plans to turn the rural land into a film park complete with studios, production offices, a film school, a screening theatre, and an exhibition centre.

A letter to the government signed by Queenstown Lakes District mayor Jim Boult and deputy mayor Calum MacLeod gave their wholehearted support to the proposal, saying the park could provide a boost like the one from Lord of the Rings, much of which was filmed in Queenstown Lakes.

“We anticipate that [the facility] can produce the same lift in economic activity and resilience for Wanaka while also enhancing Aotearoa New Zealand’s reputation and capability as a great place to produce quality screen content,” they said. 

The mayor and deputy mayor said the film park could bring Wanaka the same kind of benefits to the region that the Lord of the Rings movies did 20 years ago. PHOTO: Supplied

The Lord of the Rings trilogy was dubbed “the best unpaid advertisement that New Zealand has ever had" by a former Tourism New Zealand manager and the number of visitors to New Zealand shot up by 40 per cent in the five years following the first film’s release in 2001. 

It was also widely credited with putting New Zealand on the map as a film-making destination, and supporting a burgeoning industry which is now competitive internationally, provides a slew of well-paid jobs and attracts high profile movies like Avatar. 

Lake Wānaka Tourism general manager Tim Barke told the Wanaka App the proposed film park would put Wanaka in the spotlight worldwide.

“Aside from the financial injection into the district, there will be opportunities for a large number of jobs and career paths for our people, which we haven’t had on our doorstep before,” he said.

He added the venture had the potential to help diversify not just Wanaka’s economy but the whole region’s.

Film Otago Southland chair Brad Hurndell said a film studio of any kind would be “a game-changer” for the local film industry, attracting a higher volume and greater range of film business, and building capability and creating jobs for locals.

Harvesting at Corbridge Estate recently. PHOTO: Wanaka App

Ignite Wanaka executive officer Naomi Lindsay said such a studio would provide a boost to the economy through permanent population growth, help support other sectors of the community including accommodation, hospitality, retail and professional services, and provide opportunities for local young people to gain skills, training and expertise in an industry that’s known worldwide.

“The ability to produce world class films and adverts will also attract international expertise which adds to our community’s diversity,” she said, likening it to the impact of NASA’s regular involvement in the region.

Silverlight Studios is owned by industry veterans Ra Vincent, Jonathan Harding and Mike Wallis, who made the offer to purchase the farmland (known as Corbridge Estate and owned by Peter Marshall) which is located 6km east of Wanaka, in August last year. 

The company was given government approval to apply for a fast-tracked consent application under special Covid-19 rules but the Environmental Protection Authority, which would evaluate the proposal, has not yet received an application.

It is estimated the park could employ 300 people during construction and up to 1200 during filming.