Nau mai haere mai, Taranaki welcomes all filmmakers, story-tellers, and content generators to our region.
Our creative region has some of the most diverse and accessible film locations in the world.
Venture Taranaki is the Regional Film Office (RFO) for Taranaki. Situated on the North Island’s west coast, we are connected to all facets of business and creativity in the wider Taranaki region.
RFOs make filming happen. We facilitate the relationship between the screen sector, government, Iwi, Department of Conservation, community and others impacted or benefited by its activity. We are here to help problem-solve anything that crops up along the way, and connect you with local Taranaki organisations to ensure your filmmaking experience is seamless.
We want to collaborate with you to grow New Zealand’s screen industry.
Why Taranaki
We’ve explored every corner of our region for you. If you want to gain access to our amazingly unique locations for your next project, we have the knowledge and the tools you’ll need to make it happen.
We have the locations to help you capture anything destined for the screen. From the maunga to the moana (mountain to sea) from industrial areas, and farmlands, to award-winning architecture. We have it all.
If you are a local or international production company interested in filming here, let’s talk.
What support is available?
- Initial location scouting and access
- Logistical guidance and support
- Connections to businesses and services throughout the region
- Assistance with local permitting processes
- Assistance with co-financing
- Access to the unique ‘Team Taranaki’ approach to open doors throughout the region.
Filmed in Taranaki
The Last Samuari, 2003
Most of the filming of The Last Samurai, starring Tom Cruise, took place near New Plymouth in Taranaki. A Japanese village was constructed for filming on the hillsides of the Uruti Valley, with Mount Taranaki standing in for ‘Mount Fuji‘. The terraces of Pukekura Park were used for one of the battle training scenes. Lake Mangamahoe was used for horse and battle scenes, and Port Taranaki was transformed into a Japanese fishing village.
Predicament, 2010
Predicament is a comedy horror film based on the 1975 novel by Ronald Hugh Morrieson, starring Jemaine Clement. Morrieson’s hometown was Hāwera, in South Taranaki, so it was only fitting to film his last novel-to-cinema adaptation there. Filming was also undertaken in Eltham – with The Bank taking centre stage in some scenes.
Came a hot Friday, 1985
Came a Hot Friday is a New Zealand comedy film, based on the 1964 novel by Ronald Hugh Morrieson, and became one of the most successful local films released in New Zealand in the 1980s. The film's cast included famed New Zealand comedian Billy T. James. Notable locations from South Taranaki in the film are the Waverley racecourse and the Bridge to Nowhere.
Locations
Click through the images below for a taste of what Taranaki has to offer.
