The New Zealand Film Commission (NZFC) welcomes and supports the developments announced today by the Serious Fraud Office (SFO).
As NZFC publicly confirmed in November 2023, material provided by an applicant for the New Zealand Screen Production Rebate for New Zealand Productions (NZSPR - NZ) was investigated by NZFC and concerns were identified. Those concerns led NZFC to review previous applications from the same media group in which other concerns about the reliability of documents provided to NZFC in support of NZSPR - NZ applications were identified. These matters were immediately referred to the SFO.
The Commission cooperated fully with the SFO’s investigation.
NZFC has long-established systems for the assessment of rebate and funding applications, including staged certifications, independent verification requirements, and audit mechanisms. These robust processes exist to protect public funds, ensure fairness for applicants, and maintain the integrity of New Zealand’s screen incentives.
The vast majority of rebate applications proceed without issue and continue to support employment, skills development, and New Zealand’s international screen reputation. New Zealand remains a trusted and attractive production destination. This isolated matter does not reflect the broader performance of the rebate system.
As part of normal governance practice, NZFC continually reviews and strengthens its processes, including specialist expertise in production budgeting and financial verification. Continuous improvement is standard regardless of isolated cases. We are confident that the combination of our internal expertise and verification processes are fit for purpose such that only legitimate NZSPR applications receive the Rebate (all final NZSPR decisions are published on NZFC’s website).
While the SFO matters are before the court, it is not appropriate for the NZFC to comment further.