Waikato Screen

18/12/2025

🎬 WAIKATO SCREEN TAKES THE WAIKATO TO A GLOBAL AUDIENCE 🌏
Kia ora,
We’re proud to share a major win for Waikato Screen and our region with the release of the New Zealand episode of Let’s Go with Farah and Dilip! — now live on YouTube and already reaching over 2 million views, with more short-form content still to come.
As the regional film office, Waikato Screen led this collaboration, bringing international production together with our local tourism partners to showcase the Waikato to the global Indian market.
The episode features Bollywood legend Farah Khan — an award-winning director, choreographer, producer, and television personality with a vast international following. Her involvement brought instant scale, credibility, and reach, helping position the Waikato as a must-visit destination for Indian audiences.
Through an authentic, entertainment-led story — delivered with Farah’s signature warmth and humour — the episode highlights Hobbiton, Waitomo (Ruakuri Caves), and Hamilton Gardens, creating a natural call to action for viewers to experience these destinations for themselves.
This project was delivered in collaboration with Screen Auckland, local tourism operators, councils, and partners. The involvement of Waitomo Mayor John Robertson and Hamilton Mayor Tim Macindoe strengthened the cultural welcome and sense of partnership, reinforcing shared storytelling with Indian communities.
The collaboration was initiated behind the scenes by Petrina D’Rozario of the Film India Screen Collective and forms part of a wider strategic vision already underway — including momentum toward New Zealand’s next Indian Film Festival in 2026, strengthening long-term cultural, tourism, and screen partnerships with India.
This result demonstrates the power of screen-led tourism and what regional film offices can deliver when collaboration, strategy, and ambition come together — creating meaningful international visibility for the Waikato.
🎥 Watch and share the episode here:
👉 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=suvVLK4iLPY
We encourage our partners and supporters to share this across your channels and help amplify the Waikato story worldwide.
More content to come — and we’re excited to build on this momentum together.

Iss vlog mein hum New Zealand trip par nikle aur kaafi beautiful places explore ki. ✈️Humne Auckland city dekhi, Hobbiton Movie Set, Waitomo Caves aur Hamilt...

05/12/2025

🎬 TVC RELEASED: Audi’s new Q5 Range commercial — proudly filmed in the Waikato
We’re excited to share the finished TVC for the all-new Audi Q5 Range, filmed along SH23 and the iconic surf coastline of Raglan. The Waikato’s dramatic roads, west coast light, and supportive community created the perfect backdrop for this automotive story to unfold.
This commercial brings together top-tier creative talent, a world-class production team, and one of the most cinematic corners of our region — showcasing just how effortless and visually striking filming in the Waikato can be.
And we have to say… the SQ5 in District Green looks incredible out here.
Credits:
Client: – Greg Leet, , , 
Agency: DDB Aotearoa – Veronica Copestake, Adam Barnes, Claire Colohan, Zofia Wereszczynska
Production Company: Resonate
Director/DoP/Drone Op: .waterhouse
Surf DoP: 
Production Coordinators: 
1st AC: .vs.jake
2nd AC: 
Editor: 
Colour: Images & Sound – Complete Post Production
Grip / Head Tech: Chris Ruane
Grip Assist: Rich King
Water Safety: 
Sound: Robert Pendergrast
From winding highways to legendary surf breaks, the Waikato continues to prove why it’s a standout filming destination.

05/12/2025

🎬 BEHIND THE SCENES: Audi Q5 Range TVC Shot in the Waikato

Sharing a behind-the-scenes look at an automotive commercial recently filmed along SH23 and the coastline of Raglan — one of the Waikato’s most cinematic landscapes.

This project was a chance to bring a huge amount of automotive advertising expertise into a compact, high-impact 30-second TVC for the all-new Audi Q5 Range. Raglan and the wider Waikato region supported the production beautifully — easy logistics, stunning roads, iconic surf, and the kind of natural backdrops that elevate every shot.

And the SQ5 in District Green was a standout against the West Coast tones.

Credits:
Client: – Greg Leet, , ,
Agency: DDB Aotearoa – Veronica Copestake, Adam Barnes, Claire Colohan, Zofia Wereszczynska
Production Company: Resonate
Director/DoP/Drone Operator: .waterhouse
Surf DoP:
Production Coordinators:
Camera Team: .vs.jake
Editor:
Colour: Images & Sound – Complete Post Production
Grip / Head Tech: Chris Ruane
Grip Assist: Rich King
Water Safety:
Sound: Robert Pendergrast

The Waikato continues to prove why it’s a favourite for filmmakers — accessible, diverse, and effortlessly cinematic.

04/12/2025

Fantastic news. 👏👏🎬

03/12/2025

In the heart of the Waikato, you never know who you’re going to meet.

THE BIG BANG: Fahrenheit Restaurant in the small Waikato town of Te Awamutu had a huge surprise when The Big Bang Theory actor Simon Halberg decided to dine in.

Halberg, who played engineer and ex-astronaut Howard Wolowitz in the series, caused quite the buzz when he visited the restaurant over the weekend.

Front-of-house staff member Khrystal Parkes told the Waikato Herald that Helberg had been a “walk-in” dinner guest and was part of a party of four.

“We weren’t sure if it was him for a while, but then we checked out his Instagram.”

Parkes said she ended up recognising him as he was wearing the same hat as in the Instagram photo and black and blue gumboots he had just been gifted.

“He was really nice and very polite.

03/12/2025

A reminder! On the 6th December in Hamilton. This will be a superb opportunity!

🎬 FREE WORKSHOP | CREATIVE POWER – HAMILTON
📅 6 December
📍 Hamilton

Kia ora koutou,
We’re excited to share that the Creative Power Workshop Series is coming to Hamilton — a fantastic free opportunity for directors, editors, performers, writers, and anyone working in the screen or creative industries.

This workshop focuses on rights, contracts, and strengthening your creative power. Delivered by DEGANZ, Equity NZ and NZ Writers Guild, it’s a rare chance to learn directly from industry organisations who advocate for creatives across Aotearoa.

If you’re part of our Waikato screen community, we’d love to see you there — and please share this with your networks.
https://www.eventbrite.co.nz/e/creative-power-hamilton-workshop-tickets-1956747577679?aff=odcleoeventsincollection

02/12/2025

Short filmmakers! This is for you.

🎬 Ready to elevate your short film?

Apply now for the Show Me Shorts Short Film Lab 2026!

✨ Eight screenwriters will develop their scripts, gain industry insights, and build career‑advancing connections.

What makes this programme stand out?

➡️ Mentorship from acclaimed local screenwriters
➡️ Hands‑on script development
➡️ $40,000 production funding for two participants
➡️ A proven launchpad for notable NZ short films

🔗 Learn more at: https://www.showmeshorts.co.nz/news/shortfilmlab2026

01/12/2025

When you see the people you work with create a feature film, it makes you feel so proud. Check this out!

WHAT LIES BETWEEN is an independent feature film shot in Hawke's Bay, New Zealand and we are bringing it through to the Bridgeway in Auckland this Wednesday, 3rd Dec, for a screening at 6.00pm 🤩

To find out more about the film go to their website: www.whatliesbetweenfilm.com
To buy tickets to the screening: https://www.bridgeway.co.nz/movie/what-lies-between
To view the trailer: https://whatliesbetweenfilm.com/trailer/

Hope to see you there 🎫

30/11/2025

This film looks fantastic — a great cast, beautifully shot, and driven by a lively, clever script.
Notes From A Fish has been making waves after a brilliant run at NZIFF, which many of you may have seen across social media.

We’re thrilled to share that this screening will be at Lido Cinema on Thursday 4 December, joined by co-director Tom Levesque and producer Eva Trebilco for a special screening and Q&A. (We will add the link to the ticket sales when it's live.)

Made on a shoestring $10k budget and filmed in just 10 days with a small but mighty crew, this film is a testament to creative grit and pure storytelling energy — and the team would so appreciate your support.

Notes From A Fish is a cosmic comedy odyssey exploring artistic burnout, self-discovery, and the messy, magical journey of being a creative. NZIFF’s Head Programmer hailed it as
“the sleeper comedy hit of this year’s film festival”, following multiple sell-outs and encore screenings due to demand.

If you can attend, give a shout-out, or share their trailer on social media, it would mean the world to the filmmakers.
Here’s the trailer link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=InBLGyqoHyg

Let’s get behind filmmakers and support their passion.
https://ticketing.oz.veezi.com/purchase/12571?siteToken=9qjbnc9f832vmw7c64h6rx9c0c