Henderson makes it big

So much for Wellywood, Henderson will soon have the largest film sound studio in New Zealand. Kylie Munro reports.
Construction has only just started, but film makers already want to create movies at what will be the country's largest studio in Henderson.
Work on the $7 million, 1917sq m facility at Henderson Valley Studios started on December 11 and the 20m-high steel frames are on their way up. The studio isn't due to be finished until July or August, but is already attracting interest.
``There's two pencil bookings for the studio already,'' Waitakere Properties chief executive Greg Parker says. But he's coy as to who's shown interest.
The studio is a joint project between Waitakere City Council and the Tony Tay Group, with the two forming the Prime West company.
Mr Parker says the studio will be New Zealand's largest by cubic area.
Peter Jackson's Stone St sound stage facility in Wellington has a larger floor space, but only a 12m-high sound stage compared with Henderson's 15m.
``This is the largest studio by volume,'' says Mr Parker. It will be the fifth studio at Henderson Valley, which was used in 2005 to make The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe.
Film Auckland says the project is invaluable and will lift New Zealand's film infrastructure to the same level as the country's creativity.
``What we're sorely lacking in New Zealand are enough international sound stages, of a size that can cope with big international productions,'' says chairman Pete Rive.
``In the past it's been an issue in terms of productions going to Australia because we've not been able to host them here. This is going to make a big difference.''