Oscar triumphs fail to give NZ that global clout

By ELIZABETH BINNING

When it comes to film-making New Zealand is well and truly on the map but it will take some serious petitioning before it makes it onto the globe - at Universal Studios.

When tourists arrive from all over the world the first thing they see at the Universal Studios in Los Angeles is a huge replica of the world.

The globe is very impressive but has one problem - New Zealand is missing and despite pleas from an expat Kiwi, Universal appears to have no plans to put it there.

Roger Wadham, who works as a film-maker in LA, said New Zealand, with its recent success in the film industry, deserved to be acknowledged, especially with Academy Award winner Peter Jackson directing Universal's next blockbuster, the US$100 million ($156 million) King Kong remake.

Mr Wadham said he approached Universal and asked them to put New Zealand on the globe, but the company was not receptive.

"I wrote to them and asked them to fix it seeing as their next hot director, Peter Jackson, might be insulted, not to mention the entire country of New Zealand. A senior executive politely told me to sod off."

So Mr Wadham has started a website asking everyone to email Universal Studio's public relations department and demand New Zealand be honoured on a global scale.

The country is the home of award- winning directors such as Peter Jackson and Jane Campion and productions including Once Were Warriors, Zena: Warrior Princess, Whale Rider, The Piano and The Lord of the Rings trilogy, which have all risen to international success.

"Universal Studios has also found that New Zealand is a great place to work, making Midnight Run, The Frighteners and soon a US$100 million remake of King Kong ... " Mr Wadham said on his website.

"This might have indicated New Zealand had become a memorable country until, my friends, I came to that big blank spot on that globe.

"I would not want to be the studio executive spluttering an explanation to Peter Jackson when he asks what has to be the world's most embarrassing question, 'Why isn't my country up there?"'

Mr Wadham said artistic representation could not be the problem - several island countries similar in size, or smaller than, New Zealand can be clearly seen on the globe.

Helen Clark said through a spokesman last night: "Full marks to this guy for going in to bat for New Zealand". She was surprised at Universal Studio's response, given New Zealand's run at the Oscars.

Put NZ on the map