A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed yesterday between the New Zealand Film Commission (NZFC) and the Regional Film Offices of New Zealand (RFONZ), the organisation representing regional film office members.
The MOU outlines key commitments between the parties and is primarily a tool of maintaining positive collaboration. The goal of the MOU is to ensure a cohesive and client focused service for international screen sector clients, as well as efficiencies for all joint activity.
The NZFC is responsible for marketing and promoting New Zealand internationally as a screen production destination. The NZFC’s attraction work tied to this, and to Ministry for Business, Innovation and Enterprise (MBIE) funding, is underpinned by the NZFC’s specialist enquiries service for potential clients of New Zealand.
RFONZ is the umbrella organisation for individual regional film office members, each engaged to stimulate economic growth for their region through sector development initiatives and screen production attraction and marketing, and to undertake facilitation and permitting activities.
Areas for collaboration outlined in the MOU between NZFC and RFONZ include:
- Client enquiries
- Communication and marketing activity
- Combined activities offshore and onshore (eg markets, tradeshows, offshore delegations and inbound recces)
- Image database usage protocol
- Economic initiatives, including infrastructure development
- Training
The general principle agreed by the parties in committing to this MOU is that the good of the industry is the primary consideration in relation to all activity, followed by the good of an individual region and organisation. The collective commitment of the parties to grow and sustain our industry is explicit in the document.
The MOU is a living document and will be reviewed and updated annually. The MOU was signed by NZFC CEO Dave Gibson, NZFC Head of Attractions Philippa Mossman, and Michael Brook, Chair of RFONZ.