On 7 November 2025, the Minister for Economic Growth announced updates to the International Rebate, effective for productions starting principal photography or PDV Activity on or after 1 January 2026:
- Lower Minimum Spend for Feature Films
The minimum spend for theatrically released feature films will reduce from NZ$15 million to NZ$4 million, aligning with the existing threshold for TV and streaming productions. - Removal of Above-The-Line Cap
The cap on above-the-line costs will be removed. - Updated 5% Uplift for Live Action Productions
The minimum spend required for Live Action productions applying for the 5% Uplift will decrease from $30 million to $20 million. This uplift will now be known as the Production Rebate 5% Uplift. - New 5% Uplift for PDV Productions
A new incentive, the PDV Rebate 5% Uplift, will be introduced for PDV Productions.
The updated Criteria, FAQs, application forms and other information are available here. If you have any queries, please contact the Co-Production and Incentives team via nzspr@nzfilm.co.nz