Photo caption: Director of Kōawa Studios, Sam Witters.
The agreement links Auckland Film Studios (AFS) and Kumeū Film Studios (KFS) with Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury (UC)’s Kōawa Studios and its South Island connections, reinforcing New Zealand’s appeal as a production destination. It also gives UC students invaluable opportunities to step directly into industry environments. For producers, it creates clearer pathways to access AFS, KFS and South Island connections, helping attract more projects from New Zealand and overseas.
This collaboration marks a pivotal step in connecting New Zealand’s screen production ecosystem, said Sam Witters, Director of Kōawa Studios at UC.
“By aligning with Auckland Film Studios (AFS) and Kumeū Film Studios (KFS), Kōawa Studios strengthens its national footprint, educational mission and industry credibility. It’s a signal to the global screen community that we’re building a truly integrated, future-facing production pipeline.”
AFS and KFS are two of New Zealand’s largest and most established facilities, hosting productions from Power Rangers, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power and East of Eden through to A Minecraft Movie and Chief of War.. Together, they offer world-class sound stages, have the largest ocean surface tanks and dive tanks in Australasia, and are capable of handling the very largest international productions. Both studios have a strong record of showcasing South Island locations in major productions and continue to welcome all productions and collaborate with a range of training providers.
The partnership will also enable UC’s Bachelor of Digital Screen with Honours (BDigiScreen(Hons)) students to get hands-on experience with real productions and industry tools. It will make it easier for producers to see what studios across New Zealand can offer, from Auckland’s facilities to the South Island’s stunning locations, and help to attract more projects from here and overseas.
UC’s screen partnerships are already creating opportunities for students and industry. Most recently, Kōawa Studios worked with leading New Zealand production company Velvet Moss on their international feature film Holy Days, where two UC BDigiScreen(Hons) interns gained crucial on-set experience. This builds on existing agreements with Stretchy Productions (Kiri and Lou), Aardman Academy (from Aardman Animations, the Oscar-winning producers of Wallace and Gromit), New Zealand International Film Festival and Doc Edge, as well as previous film productions such as We Were Dangerous (Piki Films) and Head South.
“This new partnership is a great example of how education and industry can work together for mutual benefit,” said Professor Kevin Watson, Executive Dean of the Faculty of Arts at UC. “Our students will graduate with hands-on experience, and the sector gains skilled talent ready to contribute.”
The news comes as New Zealand’s creative industries are being recognised as serious economic engines. Contributing nearly $19 billion to GDP and ranking as the country’s fourth-largest export industry, bigger than fruit, wine or seafood, the sector supports over 100,000 jobs and connects with billions of global consumers through digital platforms.
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