To The Editor - Hobbit Film Execs

An old adage tells us to spend money to make money.   This evening [11 December] TVNZ reported that $6,000 was spent on transport for the Warner Bros film studio executives during their recent visit to New Zealand.  TVNZ also reported that this sum was spent as part of the government’s efforts to keep The Hobbit in New Zealand.    Whilst this is undoubtedly true, I think that the reporting – and indeed some public sentiment – fails to recognise that far more was at stake than just a single movie project.   In fact, as soon as The Hobbit was secured, announcements for a raft of other projects immediately followed.

In other words, it wasn’t just The Hobbit that was at stake nor even just our movie industry.  It was, and continues to be, our entire business sector and the way the world perceives it.  A government which is perceived not to be willing to invest in its success stories is a government which, internationally, is perceived to be business unfriendly.

In addition, the government has now made a substantial and strategic investment in the NZ tourism sector.   Unlike its unconvincing national cycleway project, investment in The Hobbit (as well as subsequent films) will attract visitor interest.  For example, cruise passengers still continue to book shore excursions focusing on the Lord of the Rings, seven years after the last film in the trilogy was released.  Given that cruise tourism represents NZ’ fastest growing tourism sector, the returns will be substantial.

Whilst I’m not big on agreeing with this government, I wholeheartedly agree with its support of Kiwi Inc’s film industry.

Yours faithfully

Wendy R London