The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) will no longer provide funding support for the Silverlight Studios film park in Wānaka after delays to its ‘phase zero’. 

Last year former regional development minister Kiri Allan announced an MBIE $4.5M underwrite for the project, drawing from a $20M fund designed to advance new innovative economic opportunities in the district. 

The screen industry contributes $3.3B to the economy each year and employs more than 16,000 New Zealanders, making it a “key component” of economic diversification initiatives, Kiri said.

This week MBIE investment director Paul Swallow said support from the Queenstown Economic Transformation and Resilience Fund is approved in principle and announced before contracts are negotiated.

The Silverlight Studios underwrite was contingent on the completion of ‘phase zero’ - a series of soundstages.

“In September 2023, due to delays in the start of soundstage construction, the underwrite arrangement was not put in place,” Paul said.

Kānoa, the regional economic development investment unit, is still in contact with Silverlight Studios about the project, he said.

Silverlight Studio was granted resource consent to construct the film park - complete with studios, production offices, a film school, a screening theatre, and an exhibition centre - 

in December 2021 under the Covid-19 Recovery (Fast-track Consenting) Act.

Last year Silverlight Studios was granted an extra five years to ‘give effect’ to the film park and associated workers’ accommodation, with the Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) resource consents manager Fiona Blight noting the company had made “substantial progress” on the film park.

Silverlight Studios has also secured approval for temporary film studios and support facilities at its 332ha site while the wider film park project progresses.

Application documents said the temporary studios would “bring forward the establishment of the creative opportunities and jobs that the fast track consents sought to provide, enabling the positive effects of the wider development to be felt sooner rather than later”.

It is understood the Silverlight Studios site is being used as a location for a Taika Waititi film this month.

Read more: Taika Waititi film shoot at Silverlight

IMAGE: Silverlight Studios