This earned the wrath of Green Party co-leader Russel Norman,hair straighteners, who said the grant was “excessive” and that the subsidy should be capped.
“Attracting large budget film productions here offers wider benefits to the economy,uggs, including increased opportunities for New Zealanders as well as tourism benefits from having New Zealand locations shown to an international audience,” he said.
The LBSPG offers a 15 per cent rebate on production expenditure over a certain value within New Zealand.
But Economic Development Minister Gerry Brownlee said on Sunday the grant delivered more than $NZ307 million ($A242.54 million) in expenditure to the New Zealand economy.
“Avatar has set a new standard for visual effects and this showcases our capability in what is a high value, high technology sector of our economy.”
Mr Brownlee said that since the scheme was begun under the previous government in 2003, overseas movie and television productions had spent more than $NZ1.42 billion ($A1.12 billion) in New Zealand, which resulted in grant payments of $NZ189.4 million ($A149.63 million).
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The New Zealand government has defended the scheme which saw blockbuster film Avatar get nearly $NZ45 million ($A35.55 million) of taxpayer money. Much of the digital post-production work was done in Wellington by the tech wizards at Weta Digital, and the makers received $NZ44.69 million ($A35.31 million) from the Large Budget Screen Production Grant (LBSPG). NZ tax credit for Avatar defended |
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January 24,ugg shoes, 2010 NZPA Avatar recently won best picture and other gongs at the Golden Globe awards and is on track to be the biggest grossing movie of all time. |
