Rotorua film studio pitches for expansion as Govt celebrates $2b spend on regional development

by Felix Desmarais Local Democracy Reporter

Rotorua-based filmmakers hope to expand Steambox Collective’s Waiariki Film Studios to future-proof the screen industry in Rotorua, and have made a plea for the Government to back it to do so.

Steambox Collective trustees Piripi Curtis and Lara Northcroft, along with Film Bay of Plenty chief executive Anton Steel made the pitch for more funding for the project as Economic and Regional Development Minister Stuart Nash visited the studio on Wednesday.

The minister was in Rotorua on a whistle-stop tour of business and tourism sites in the city, stopping by the film studio for a tour as he announced a milestone of $2.1 billion spent on regional economic development projects since 2018.

Steambox Collective got $875,000 of that funding to create the Waiariki Film Studios sound stage on White St.

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