Top reasons
In Waitaha Canterbury, the ocean, mountains and urban streets are never far away. Diverse landscapes will help tell your stories, and our people will too. Our city, Ōtautahi Christchurch, is just 20 minutes from an international airport. There's plenty more why - come find out.
Why film here?
In Waitaha Canterbury, the ocean, mountains and urban streets are never far away. Diverse landscapes will help tell your stories, and our people will too. Our city, Ōtautahi Christchurch, is just 20 minutes from an international airport. There's plenty more why - come find out.
Diverse & accessible filming locations
- The city has achieved international acclaim for its creative and clever urban design, evidenced by inspiring street art, new architecture, and a range of new retail, hospitality, innovation, arts and entertainment precincts.
- No story is ever the same. In Canterbury, productions can be filmed at a sea port, in wheat fields, in alpine skies, on braided rivers, surf breaks, rolling hills, wide-open plains, lakes, historic buildings, modern streets, green spaces, sleepy town centres, sheltered bays and so much more.
- Canterbury is the largest region in the South Island and at the centre is New Zealand’s newest and second largest city - Ōtautahi Christchurch
- Christchurch is the gateway to the picturesque South Island- five hours south of the Tasman, three hours east of the West Coast and six hours north of Queenstown. Download the New Zealand Touring Map (PDF 2.6 MB).
Strong production & infrastructure support
- Talented and innovative film crew.
- Infrastructure with capacity, such as quality hotels, restaurants and transport.
- Three large tertiary providers and a number of private training establishments delivery screen related education programmes.
- Studios and land capacity to build a large-scale studio campus
- Access to a workforce of scale in manufacturing, software, engineering and construction. Visit our economic insights page to learn more.
- Trust and confidence in the lack of corruption - View the corruption and perceptions index.
Vibrant and modern city
- Ease of access in and around the city, to all of Canterbury, to the South Island and New Zealand
- Off season destination, just in time delivery for Northern hemisphere markets.
- Affordable accommodation
- Outstanding lifestyle.
already filmed here
An international showreel that's truly epic
An international showreel that’s truly epic
We are proud to be the backdrop for some of the world’s most epic cinema. Our local crew have their names etched on the history books and award trophies of many a blockbuster. Content producers are spoilt for choice when it comes to locations to film in New Zealand and Canterbury.
Check out some of these films and TV commercials that showcase the crew capabilities, intriguing locations and outstanding scenery in the Southern Alps, Canterbury and West Coast regions.
incentives
Incentives and production grants
Various Screen CanterburyNZ product grants, including regional & national incentives and New Zealand film comission cash grants are available in Waitaha Canterbury.
resources
Production guides
Download the Screen CanterburyNZ Production Guides.
top reasons
Talented cast & crew resource
The region has access to some of the best crew in the world from Gaffers to Grip and Directors to Producers.
top reasons
Optimal climate conditions
Compared to other major centres in New Zealand, Christchurch is known for its dry, stable and temperate weather.
top reasons
Get access now
New Zealand offers many diverse and accessible locations. In Canterbury, everything is within one hours flight from Christchurch International Airport.