John Key puts cap on sweeteners for Hollywood filmmakers

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High hopes for movie making in NZ

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For John Key, his visit to the US has been a who's who of Hollywood studios

For John Key, his visit to the US has been a who's who of Hollywood studios

By Emma Jolliff

The Prime Minister has just wrapped up his visit to Hollywood, and he'll be glad there was no mention of Kim Dotcom on the final day.

While he says movie executives there think our 15 percent subsidy rate for foreign moviemakers is fair, he's not ruling out further concessions, which leaves some commentators asking whether that will cost New Zealand jobs.

For John Key, his visit to the US has been a who's who of Hollywood studios.

“Bob Iger at Disney, It's a massive corporation,” says Mr Key. “He runs Disney worldwide and sits on the board of Apple. Michael Brunton here at Sony, Barry Meyer at Warner Bros, they're serious players.”

But he can't say there's been any commitment to bring business to New Zealand.

Moviemakers receive 15 percent subsidies to make films in New Zealand, and the Prime Minister's not ruling out more incentives under the yet to be finalised Trans-Pacific Partnership.

“There are 11 countries sitting around the table to advance the trade agenda,” says Mr Key. “All of us will give a little bit and all of us will get a little.”

Hollywood executives have indicated a couple of sticking points.

“The television subsidies or some infrastructure around sound studios in New Zealand, they're probably the two things that are missing from their perspective,” says the Prime Minister.

Economic commentator Jane Kelsey told The Nation's Rachel Smalley the Government's being too secretive about its negotiations.

“These agreements have a history of closing the doors for our local innovation for our local industry – local jobs to get the advantages John Key is now promising to Hollywood,” she says.

But the New Zealand-US Council says there's good reason for confidentiality.

“Because there are very sensitive economic and commercial matters involved,” says Council executive director Steven Jacobi.

The New Zealand-US Council says stakeholders will have a chance to participate in the next TPPA negotiating round in Auckland in December.

But Ms Kelsey says that's not true and the closed-door negotiations mean we won't get to find out what's in the agreement until the deal is done.

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Comments

8/10/2012 12:07:44 a.m.

dennis wrote:

As Key has effectively used a potential complainant (a film director) as a supporter of the State's stance it is relevant to repeat legal expert opinion. Also, if there is a lawyer acting for New Zealand, as opposed to the Crown Law Office advising US interpretation of the Treaty, that lawyer should advise that it is inappropriate or wrong to play the case out publicly when the issues raised are effectively sub-judice. "Eric Goldman, a professor of law at Santa Clara University, described the Megaupload case as "a depressing display of abuse of government authority". He pointed out that criminal copyright infringement requires that willful infringement has taken place, and that taking Megaupload offline had produced the "deeply unconstitutional effect" of denying legitimate users of the site access to their data"

7/10/2012 3:37:15 p.m.

DIMIT wrote:

This is just Sick. Key really does fancy himself as one of the Players.Nothing sweet about TPP.11 countries been sold down the river So a few in power can fill their offshore bank accounts.Serious Players? Power hungry greedy little boys. Keep the "give" and "get" games to yourselves....

7/10/2012 10:38:06 a.m.

Mal wrote:

Spies Lies and Alibis. JK in the leading role.

7/10/2012 7:17:04 a.m.

dodd wrote:

The opening scene's no good. Cancel the warrant, give Dotcom's stuff back, and try a rerun. Use the military in this take. Make sure you knock on the door though to keep it legal

6/10/2012 11:44:44 p.m.

alice wrote:

It would be so nice if something would make sense for a change.

6/10/2012 11:41:12 p.m.

America's Saucepan wrote:

This prime minister hasn't the deflective qualities of Clark. He's starting to look like a greasy baked on stain instead of a poached egg and corn cakes. Household sprays aren't helping, while a hot grill and too much oil take their toll.

6/10/2012 11:25:14 p.m.

john henry wrote:

I'm sure the redundant,miners ,rail workers & soon to be laid off smelter workers will stoked to know that Mr Key may have given them a chance to become extras in a film for a few $ a day, What a Clown !!!

6/10/2012 11:20:02 p.m.

M wrote:

Keynocchio is just a puppet with Hollywood pulling the strings.

6/10/2012 10:35:41 p.m.

vines wilks wrote:

your smoke screening for bad uncle john , your over doing it it sounds like a toss fest .

6/10/2012 8:14:42 p.m.

frank_db wrote:

I bet anyone $50 million that Jonkey would rather be anywhere but here in New Zealand tomorrow. I have missed him in the last few days, in the same way that you might miss your favourite soap opera or pile cream.