Commercial filming and photography

ARC Regional Parks provide access to a variety of natural and scenic settings suitable for commercial filming and photography.  

Individuals and organisations wishing to use regional parks for filming activity are required to obtain approval, and may incur charges.

• Locations
• Filming applications
• Filming charges
• Specific park requirements

Locations

Current visitor research is telling the ARC that people enjoy regional parks for the 'quiet enjoyment of natural settings'. The regional park network is managed by the ARC to 'provide for current and future Auckland resident's recreation and conservation needs'. It is important that filming activity does not impact upon these needs.

The Auckland Regional Parks provide access to a variety of natural and scenic settings across the Auckland region. These range from Tawharanui on the northeast coast to Waharau on the Firth of Thames and Awhitu on the Manukau Harbour. They include the large tracts of native forest in the Waitakere Ranges and the Hunua Ranges. The regional park network comprises 26 parks, totalling more than 40,000 hectares of parkland.

Park locations provide access to:

• native bush with streams, wildlife, waterfalls and ancient forests
• rolling farmland with sheep and cattle
• coastal cliffs, extensive sand dunes, surf and swimming beaches and river estuaries
• historic homesteads, visitor centres and farm buildings
• recreational activities and conservation and education programmes
• Auckland Botanic Gardens at Manurewa
• Mt Smart Stadium and entertainment centre.

Filming Applications

The ARC welcomes appropriate filming activity. We will give you assistance to ensure that you are able to lodge a successful application.

Timing for filming applications:

• applications can take between 5-30 working days to process, depending on the complexity of the proposal and the impact filming will have on the park
• it is important that you supply all the information requested
• please provide two weeks notification to ensure adequate evaluation and processing of the proposal
• applicants must be advised that no filming applications have right of approval. Filming is classified as a discretionary use activity by the Regional Parks Management Plan 2004 (RPMP). All applications are required to use the Permit Application for Filming and be assessed as per section 39.4 of the RPMP.

Information required on applications

• The minimum information required is detailed on the application form.
• Contact us prior to making the application to discuss the details and site plans. This aids quick and efficient processing.
• Include details of public liability insurance, a site safety management plan and safety officer(s). Full environmental impact assessments, prepared at the applicant's cost, may be required in some circumstances.
• Some proposals might require approvals under other legislation such as the Resource Management Act, or approvals from other agencies such as the local authority or the Historic Places Trust, and may require consultation with special interest groups or wider public.
• In cases where the shoot may incorporate images and/or locations of significance to Maori, additional consultation may be required with Iwi.
• Where possible applicants are encouraged to work around public use of the parks with only minor disruptions and delays. Consequently the parks may not be available for filming on weekends or public holidays.
• The ARC will assess any displacement effects filming activities will have on other park users, and the impact on the park environment. Potential filming activities will be assessed against recreation and conservation values, and other key criteria outlined by the Regional Parks Management Plan (v2004).

Filming charges

The Auckland Regional Council (ARC) has a scale of charges for commercial and community activities that occur on Regional Parkland:

Educational filming

• Charges for educational filming are limited to associated application costs only.
• All applicants for educational filming activity must include a completed fee waiver form and deposit at the time of application.
• Where application costs are less than the deposit the balance will be refunded to the applicant.
• Educational filming must meet the following criteria:
  • A completed fee waiver application form is received with the filming application form; and
  • The applicant has no balance outstanding with the ARC; and
  • There is no individual or collective gain from the activity; and
  • The filming activity is for/will be used for educational purposes such as course requirements and/or environmental education and/or as part of research agreed by the ARC; or
  • The filming activity has direct value to the ARC.
  

Commercial filming

• The ARC classes filming to be of a commercial nature where benefit to an individual and/or organisation from any filming activity is greater than that derived from the residents of the Auckland region.
• The one-off fee for commercial filming applications range from $1000 to $5000 per day, depending on the application.
• Any associated costs will be incurred by the applicant in addition to the per day fee. Associated costs can be defined as costs that can be directly linked to the processing and/or undertaking of the filming taking place. This may include but is not limited to: consultation, notification, site management (including restoration) and/or processing.
• The fee is designed to reflect the use of a prime location and the impact of the filming activity taking place on the parkland. The revenue will be used to offset visitor inconvenience caused during the filming, and to enhance regional park facilities and services generally.
  There are three components that make up commercial filming charges: 

Applicants will be charged the actual and reasonable costs of processing their application, whether the application is approved or declined.

Processing costs cover all costs involved in processing applications and monitoring filming activities. Such costs include, but are not limited to assessment, public notification of applications and hearings as required.

Bonds may also be applied in some circumstances.  

Specific park requirements

The regional parks network is split into five areas or sectors of responsibility, with a senior ranger or manager responsible for overseeing filming and commercial photography within that area.

Contact the relevant parks office for more information about any specific park requirements for that area:

1. Northern

The Northern Parks Office is at Wenderholm Regional Park (phone: 09 366 2000 and ask to be put through, fax: 09 4263358): with responsibility for Tawharanui, Mahurangi, Scandrett, Wenderholm, Shakespear and Long Bay Regional Parks.

2. Western

The Western Parks Office is at Arataki Visitor Centre (phone: 09 817 0077, fax: 09 817 5656), with responsibility for the Waitakere Ranges Regional Parkland including Kauri/Cascade, Lake Wainamu, Anawhata, Piha Valley, North Piha, Lion Rock, Karekare, Arataki, Nihotupu and Huia catchments, Cornwallis, Huia, Whatipu and Muriwai.

Note that the number of filming events per month may be restricted in key locations such as the gannet colony at Muriwai and the waterfall at Karekare.

You can find more about filming at Waitakere Ranges and Muriwai Regional Parks here:

3. Southern

The Southern Parks office is at Hunua Village Visitor Centre (phone: 09 292 4267, fax: 09 292 4039) with responsibility for the Hunua Ranges, including Hunua Falls, Omana, Duder, Tapapakanga, Tawhitikino, Waharau, Whakatiwai, Awhitu, Ambury Regional Parks and Whakanewha Regional Park on Waiheke Island.

4. Auckland Botanic Gardens

Auckland Botanic Gardens is located on Hill Road, Manurewa (phone: 09 267 1457, fax: 09 266 3698).

5. Mt Smart Stadium

For information regarding the use of Mt Smart Stadium (phone 09 571 1603, fax: 09 571 1681).