The Hobbit movie is on again... and it will be made in Noo Zuld! The Prime Minister has just announced that Warner Bros has agreed to continue making the Peter Jackson films here in Godzone. This follows two days of heavy face-to-face negotiations between senior politicos and movie execs about the flick, which was in doubt following union action.
John Key is "...delighted we've achieved this result. Making the two movies here will not only safeguard work for thousands of NZers but will also allow us to follow the success of the Lord of the Rings trilogy in once again promoting NZ on the world stage." Part of the arrangement will see new legislation fast-tracked into parliament tomorrow to clarify the distinction between independent contractors and employees. Key said this would relate "only to the film production industry. This clarification will guarantee the movies are made in NZ. We will be moving to ensure that NZ law in this area is settled to give film producers like Warner Bros the confidence they need to produce their movies in NZ." This is brilliant news! And despite opinions about who was responsible for the mess that nearly cost us the whole ball game, it's now time to move ahead positively. Everyone involved has learnt some painful lessons, and now the whole country can breathe a collective sigh of relief.
And although I generally have little time for the parliamentary talking heads, or the current regime, I send a big "thankyou" tonight to John Key.
(OMG! Did I really say that??!! Eeek! Cast me into Mount Doom!!)
1 comment:
Well said! Go New Zild :)
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