It’s home to some of the most iconic scenes from the best-known films ever made in New Zealand but there’s much more potential for movie-making in Waikato than just The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit.

A small team of industry professionals at Waikato Screen, a new film office based in Hamilton, are working hard facilitating the needs of film-makers in a bid to make the region a cinematic powerhouse once again.

Waikato Screen has, until now, been a low-key operation yet that could soon change. Two members of the team, Madelien Scholten and Erin Griffiths, recently gave a presentation to the Hamilton City Council’s long term plan hearings where they outlined why they were needed, and why they needed the council’s help.