What are the new film incentive changes in New Zealand?

New Zealand has lowered the minimum spend for its film rebate to NZ$4 million and removed caps on certain claims to attract more productions.

How can Indian filmmakers benefit from New Zealand's film incentives?

Indian filmmakers can access enhanced rebate packages with a lower minimum spend and improved uplift options for various production scales.

What is the status of the New Zealand-India Film Co-production Treaty?

The treaty, signed 15 years ago, has seen limited use but remains an option, alongside strong inbound production possibilities.

Home / Business and Economy / NZ Film Incentives Target India Market

NZ Film Incentives Target India Market

23 Nov

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Summary

New Zealand enhances film rebates, lowering spend threshold to NZ$4 million.
Incentive changes aim to attract larger Indian film productions.
Co-production treaty usage minimal, with focus shifting to inbound productions.

New Zealand is significantly boosting its appeal to the Indian film industry by overhauling its screen production rebate program. Effective January 1, 2026, the minimum spend for feature films, television, and streaming content will drop from NZ$15 million to NZ$4 million, making the nation more accessible for independent productions.

Further adjustments include removing caps on above-the-line claims and reducing the threshold for an additional 5% uplift to NZ$20 million. The standalone post-production, digital, and visual effects (PDV) rebate will now also qualify for a 5% uplift, reaching 25%. These enhancements are part of a sustained outreach to India, including visits to the WAVES Film Bazaar.

The New Zealand Film Commission is actively promoting co-production opportunities under a treaty that has seen limited use. While the treaty offers substantial funding and rebates, the focus is also on inbound production, with recent Telugu-language films successfully filming in New Zealand without utilizing the treaty structure. Direct flights between India and New Zealand are anticipated by early 2027.