Tribal deal helps filmmakers get rolling

Access to key Auckland landmarks has been opened up for filmmakers. Photo / Richard Robinson

Movie makers have signed an agreement with Ngati Whatua o Orakei to ensure ease of access to film Auckland landmarks.

Film Auckland markets the city as an ideal place for filming because of the diversity of locations in the region.

It and the tribe have worked together to develop guidelines to speed up the process for filmmakers and take the hard work out for Ngati Whatua, which owns Okahu Park and Bastion Pt but manages them with the Auckland City Council.

Film Auckland board member Clayton Tikao said that if filmmakers wanted to shoot, they had to apply to the council and consult the iwi - a "two-pronged" process that could often end up in lots of to-ing and fro-ing.

The tribe had only one person to process the applications who was often tied up with other priorities, he said.

"Sometimes they can have a dozen requests to film. I didn't want them to get to a point where they said 'no' to everything because they didn't have the time to look at applications."

The new guidelines laid out the tribe's expectations in relation to filming on its land, and that information would be taken into account at the same time as producers approached the council for the final permit, saving the tribe time.

Asked if the guidelines could lead to censorship, Mr Tikao said that they gave filmmakers the chance to think about issues before they became problematic.

"This is a process which vets it before it gets to an issue. It's kind of common sense from my point of view. What the film industry gets is access to these locations - what Ngati Whatua get out of it is a sense of comfort that the location is treated with respect."

The guidelines warn that the tribe reserves the right to impose conditions as it sees fit.

* Dos and don'ts

DIRECTOR'S CUT:

Film Auckland and Ngati Whatua o Orakei guidelines want filmmakers to:

Take measures to ensure environmental impact is minimal.

Make sure none of the tribe's intellectual property is misused.

Keep clear of the church and urupa (cemetery) at Okahu Bay.

Be aware of concerns of culturally inappropriate use of culturally significant sites.

CUTTING ROOM FLOOR:

Subject matter dealing with alcohol, tobacco or anything to do with toilet paper.