Film Otago Southland will provide advice and help facilitate your film permits. You may also require resource consents for bigger and/or long-term productions. It's always best to contact us in the first instance and we can point you in the right direction.
We also recommend you engage a locally-based line producer and/or location scout/manager. They are listed in the Industry Directory, have valuable local knowledge, and can help you obtain your permissions and navigate production aspects like: legal requirements, visa applications, tax, insurance, accepted work practices and more.
Please also visit our FAQs page for frequently asked questions about film permits and permissions.
QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE TO FILMING IN OTAGO AND SOUTHLAND:
Note: This is an overview only. You can download our 2018 FOS Guidelines and Protocols (PDF), or get in touch for comprehensive information.
This information has last been updated December 2018.
QUEENSTOWN LAKES DISTRICT
FILM PERMIT IS REQUIRED
A film permit is required for location filming that involves the following activities:
- Use of streets and roads
- Use of open spaces, reserves and parks
- Use of council facilities and buildings
- Use of waterways
- Use of council owned land
- Use of Airport owned land
Queenstown Lakes District Council permits are processed through APL Property Queenstown
Contact: queenstown@aplproperty.co.nz
Queenstown Airport requires a permit from the Queenstown Airport Corporation: www.queenstownairport.co.nz
Download Current Permit for Filming in the Queenstown Lakes District (PDF)
DUNEDIN CITY COUNCIL
FILM PERMIT IS REQUIRED
A film permit is required for location filming that involves the following activities:
- Use of streets and roads
- Use of open spaces, reserves and parks
- Use of council facilities and buildings
- Use of waterways.
- Use of council owned land
- Use of Airport owned land
Dunedin City Council permits are processed through the Film Dunedin Coordinator Antony Deaker:
Contact: Antony.Deaker@dcc.govt.nz
Dunedin Airport requires notification to be sent to mcrawford@dnairport.co.nz
Go to current Dunedin Permit for Filming Application online portal
CENTRAL OTAGO DISTRICT COUNCIL
FILM PERMISSION IS REQUIRED
A Filming Activity Notification Form is required for location filming that involves the following activities:
- Use of streets and roads
- Use of open spaces, reserves and parks
- Use of council facilities and buildings
- Use of waterways.
- Use of council owned land
Contact: Alison Mason - alison.mason@codc.govt.nz
WAITAKI DISTRICT COUNCIL
FILM PERMIT IS REQUIRED
A film permit is required for location filming that involves the following activities:
- Use of streets and roads
- Use of open spaces, reserves and parks
- Use of council facilities and buildings
- Use of waterways.
- Use of council owned land
Contact: Leanne Kingan - lkingan@waitaki.govt.nz
CLUTHA DISTRICT COUNCIL
NO FILM PERMIT REQUIRED - COUNCIL REQUIRES NOTIFICATION
Contact: desk@cluthadc.govt.nz
INVERCARGILL CITY COUNCIL
FILM PERMIT REQUIRED
Contact: parks@icc.govt.nz in the first instance.
Invercargill Airport requires notification: admin@invercargillairport.co.nz
SOUTHLAND DISTRICT COUNCIL
NO FILM PERMIT REQUIRED - COUNCIL REQUIRES NOTIFICATION
Contact: Kevin McNaught - kevin.mcnaught@southlanddc.govt.nz
GORE DISTRICT COUNCIL
NO FILM PERMIT REQUIRED - COUNCIL REQUIRES NOTIFICATION
Contact: Emma Carle - ecarle@goredc.govt.nz
OTAGO REGIONAL COUNCIL
ALL PERMITTING PROCESSED THROUGH RESPECTIVE COUNCILS
Otago Regional Council work complements that of the city and district councils within Otago. They don't duplicate the functions of these councils. Therefore all film permitting will go to the relevant council.
DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION (DOC) CONTROLLED AREAS
CONCESSION REQUIRED
DOC is the guardian of New Zealand's conservation estate and administers its national parks. If you want to film in an area managed by DOC you need to apply for a concession.
Download the DOC Concession Application Form 5a – Filming
Download the Application Information Form 1b – One-Off Process
We encourage you to have as much pre-application discussion with the local DOC office as possible.
Film crews should familiarize themselves with this process and follow the guidance when applying for their DOC concession - this reduces the time and cost required. In most cases the application is best lodged at the DOC office nearest the primary location that is to be used.
Concessions are governed by DOC’s Code of Practice: The Code’s stated purpose is to provide film crews with guidance and assistance. Consent forms and other relevant material such as information about fees can be found on DOC’s website : www.doc.govt.nz
Contact: permissions@doc.govt.nz
LINZ ADMINISTERED LAKEBEDS AND RIVERBEDS
Many New Zealand lakebeds and riverbeds are Crown property and are managed by LINZ on behalf of the Commissioner of Crown Lands.
If you want to undertake an activity involving a lake or river bed, you may need the permission of the Commissioner of Crown Lands. Some of the activities that require consent include building a jetty or boat mooring, anchoring swimming pontoons, or extracting gravel.
Data on all of the land administered by LINZ is held here: https://data.linz.govt.nz/layer/53358-linz-managed-crown-property/. If you're unsure whether you need consent, or want to confirm whether a particular lake or riverbed is managed by LINZ, contact crownproperty@linz.govt.nz
Applications should be made with Colliers.
Contact: Rose Quirk - Rose.Quirk@colliers.com
LINZ PASTORAL LAND (STATIONS OR FARMS)
CONCESSION REQUIRED
If you are filming on Pastoral lease land with the permission of the leaseholder (farmer) you will also need a LINZ Pastoral recreation permit from LINZ Pastoral.
Contact: crownproperty@linz.govt.nz
MAORI LAND
PERMISSION REQUIRED
The encouragement of consultation with local iwi is recommended before filming in New Zealand. Please get in touch for further information and contacts.
PRIVATE LAND
PERMISSION REQUIRED FROM LANDOWNER
Permission to film is required from the landowner of all locations.
ENVIRONMENT SOUTHLAND
PERMISSION REQUIRED
As a regional council, Environment Southland is responsible for the sustainable management of Southland's natural resources - land, water, air and coast - in partnership with the community.
Each situation is considered on a case-by-case basis depending on the activity that was taking place as part of the filming.
Contact: Duty Consents Officer on 0800 76 88 45 or service@es.govt.nz
DRONES
- QLDC requires all drone/UAV operators to have a CAA Part 102 license
- Read full Dunedin drone guidelines here
- Central Otago requires permission on council land
- Waitaki requires a permit on council land
- Invercargill requires UAV consent on council land
- Southland requires UAV consent on council land
- Clutha requires approval
- Gore requires UAV consent on Council land
- LINZ consent is required if over land administered
- DOC - a concession is required from DOC to fly a drone on public conservation land
ROADS AND MOVING VEHICLES
- Filming on any part of a local public road where no road closure is required: you'll require a temporary traffic management plan (TMP) and discontinuation of parking controls.
- Filming on a state highway involving either roadside filming or holding of traffic: you'll require a temporary traffic management plan or temporary road closure.
- Filming from a moving vehicle on a road, and/or filming actors in a moving vehicle mounted on a towed low-loader: you'll require a temporary traffic management plan or temporary road closure, and a Health and Safety plan.
FILMING ON/NEAR WATER
- Filming in beach areas: compliance with council bylaws and consent from adjacent landowners if access is required.
- Filming on lakes, rivers, harbours: you'll require landowner consent, alteration to navigation bylaws/rules, and resource consent if structures or alteration to natural features is involved.
Contact: Maritime New Zealand
For further information about location access and permits, please visit our FAQs or contact us: +64 (0) 3 441 0475 or info@filmotagosouthland.com
