News | Politics
19 May 2013 5:08
NZCity News
NZCity CalculatorReturn to NZCity

  • Start Page
  • Personalise
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • Videos
  • Finance
  • Shopping
  • Horoscopes
  • Lotto Results
  • Photo Gallery
  • Site Gallery
  • TVNow
  • Dating
  • Auctions
  • SearchNZ
  • NZSearch
  • Crime.co.nz
  • RugbyLeague
  • Make Home
  • About NZCity
  • Contact NZCity
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Logout
  • Your Privacy


  • NZCity - NZ's Best Homepage
      Home > News > Politics

    Hollywood trip 'worth it', says Key

    Prime Minister John Key says his discussions with film-makers in Hollywood last week were worthwhile because it's about creating job opportunities.


    Prime Minister John Key has defended his trip to Los Angeles last week to meet with Hollywood movie moguls, saying it was worth it because it was about jobs and the economy.

    Mr Key told TVNZ's Breakfast programme that among the issues discussed was the possibility that the subsidy scheme available to film-makers could be tweaked to make New Zealand more attractive for television productions.

    Under the Large Budget Screen Production Grant, 15 per cent of locally incurred costs can be claimed back in tax.

    However, to access this, film-makers must spend $15 million.

    Mr Key said he will be taking advice on the possibility of lowering the spending threshold to encourage more television series to be made in New Zealand.

    "I can see the barrier that it creates for them, because these series, once they commit to a place where they make them for the long term, if they can't make the pilot then they don't tend to make the series there," he said on Monday.

    Film director James Cameron has earlier said that altering the subsidy scheme to keep pace with changes in the New Zealand dollar was another topic of discussion.

    Mr Key said he thought the trip was "worth it".

    "This is about jobs and the economy and actually really exciting jobs for young New Zealanders."

    Meanwhile, Mr Key told Radio New Zealand that Megaupload founder and internet piracy accused Kim Dotcom was mentioned in passing in his discussions with Chris Dodd, head of the Motion Picture Association of America.

    "I wouldn't say that the conversation was very, very long about the topic, simply noted that the case was ongoing in New Zealand, we pretty much left it there," he said.


    NZN




    © 2013 NZN, NZCity


     Other Politics News
     18 May: Maori Party selects by-election candidate
     18 May: Auckland asks for smoke-free feedback
     18 May: Minerals bill amendment passes
     17 May: A surplus next year makes political sense
     17 May: A fresh budget blast from the opposition
     17 May: Protesters expected at PM's budget speech
     17 May: Business likes it, opposition loathes it
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    NZ women clinch world sevens rugby title More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    SkyCity expands in Queenstown More...



     Today's News

    Rugby League:
    Panthers give Warrriors record thrashing 0:39

    Rugby League:
    Dragons hail Dugan after win over Eels 21:57

    Entertainment:
    Kim Kardashian has banned hospital staff members from having mobile phones with them when she has her baby. 21:45

    Politics:
    Maori Party selects by-election candidate 21:17

    Entertainment:
    Hailee Steinfeld had to leave school after being bullied. 21:15

    Entertainment:
    Rosie Perez and Michael Fassbender bonded over boxing. 20:45

    Entertainment:
    Rod Stewart was "addicted to steroids" even though they made his penis shrink. 20:15

    Entertainment:
    Thieves stole more than £213,000 in takings following a Justin Bieber concert in South Africa on Sunday. 19:45

    Entertainment:
    Usher is being sued by his former nanny. 19:15

    Hockey:
    Black Sticks men lose to South Korea 18:57


     News Search






    Power Search


    Click for info on advertising with WebAds
    © 2013 New Zealand City Ltd