TVNZ Natural History Unit crew, climbing
the cliffs of Little Mangere Island to film
the Chatham Island black robin
If you want to film in an area managed by the Department of Conservation (DOC), you need to apply for a concession. This information helps explain why concessions are necessary and how you should apply for one.
On this page:
When is a concession required?
Commercial filming and photography is defined as any photography or filming undertaken on lands managed by DOC for any form of gain or reward.
This also includes:
- Photography or filming which produces, or is intended to produce, a product for sale
- Photography or filming which produces, or is intended to produce, a product which is used commercially or is made available for commercial use, including promotional material
- Photography or filming which is intended for non-commercial end use, but which is undertaken by a contractor who undertakes the photography for gain or reward
- Film schools or students.
Pre-application contact with DOC
It is good practice to have as much pre-application discussion with the local DOC office as possible. In particular film crews should try to establish an early understanding of the process of application consideration, particularly relating to the timeframes and cost that potentially may be involved.
Scouting for locations does not normally require a concession. On occasions some footage may be captured for further reference, but in essence the film company is simply investigating the locations with a view to making an application.
As far as is possible, film applicants should undertake direct consultation with stakeholders and iwi prior to lodging an application. This will reduce the time and cost required for DOC to consult in many cases. Applicants should seek advice from the relevant DOC area office(s) about which iwi groups, in particular, may have an interest in the area(s) covered by the proposed filming activity.
It is critical that prospective film crews discuss with DOC staff as early as possible in their production planning phase which of the categories might apply to their application. Obviously the category selected could have a significant effect on the date on which filming could start.
In all cases the forms should be completed in full, with particular regard being given to the description of the effects of the activity, and what the crew intends to do to remedy, mitigate or avoid those effects.
How your application will be processed
Filming applications will be generally be classified into one of three categories:
One-off
Please see the one-off criteria to see if your application fits this process – if it does you can expect your permit to be processed within 5 days.
To apply film crews should complete these forms:
Timeframes
For One-off shoots, crews should lodge their application as early as possilbe, but at least 5 working days prior to the start of filming to ensure completion of processing in time.
Processing fee
One-off applications will be charged at a standard fee of $150+GST (not including location fees or monitoring cost recovery) unless special circumstances dictate that additional costs should be recovered.
Non-notified
To apply film crews should complete these forms:
Timeframes
For Non-notified applications, the standard processing time for DOC staff is 45-65 working days depending on the complexity of the activity and the amount of time that DOC will need in order to consult with iwi on the activity.
Processing fee
For Non-notified processes a standard fee of $1540+GST will apply, unless special circumstances dictate that additional costs should be recovered. There will be an additional cost of $500+GST per additional conservancy.
Notified
To apply film crews should complete these forms:
Timeframes
The Notified process will normally take between 65-160 working days to complete, depending on whether submissions are received and a hearing is held.
Processing fee
For Notified processes a standard fee of $1540+GST will apply, and estimates of additional processing costs will be provided to film crews at the early stages of the application process.
Costs
There are three main areas of a number of costs that will apply to film crews operating on public conservation land.
Application processing costs
See section above on how your application will be processed.
Location fees
This is DOC's location fee schedule.
Commercials, feature films and television dramas
- $500 standard daily fee
- $25 per person per day fee
Documentaries and sports events (commercial)
- $300 standard daily fee
- $25 per person per day fee
Filming schools and students
- $100 standard daily fee
- nil per person per day fee
Conservation/recreation promotion
- $100 standard daily fee
- $25 per person per day fee
Television news/current affairs
- Nil standard daily fee
- Nil per person per day fee
Still photography (commercial)
- $300 standard daily fee
- $15 per person per day fee
All location fees above are exclusive of GST and do not include application and processing fees and costs, or monitoring costs.
Total daily location fee is calculated by multiplying the per person charge by the number of persons in the film crew (including actors and talent), and then adding the standard daily fee.
Film crews often shoot only in the evenings and mornings. To take account of this, the total daily charge can be halved for film crews who film for five hours or less on any one day.
Preparation and clean-up days to be charged at 20% of full day rate.
Members of the Screen Producers and Directors Association (SPADA) will qualify, on proof of membership, for a discount of 10% of the total location rentals. This discount does not apply to recovery of DOC staff time and costs.
Monitoring costs
Monitoring of the activities of the film crew is often a condition of the concession. Any costs incurred by DOC will be recovered from the film crew. For larger crews, a condition of the concession may require the crew to directly engage and fund an independent contractor to monitor the filming activities and the affect of the locations.
Insurance costs
For the “one off” crews, insurance requirements will be specified as “a policy of insurance with an insurer approved by the Grantor against any liability that may arise out of Applicant's operation of the concession. The policy must include fire suppression insurance. The policy shall be for a sum of not less than $1,000,000.”
Where the standard departmental permit is used, insurance will be specified in the contract at the rates of no less than:
- Public Liability General Indemnity Cover: NZ$10,000,000
- Public Liability Forest & Rural Fire Extension: NZ$1,000,000
- Statutory Liability: NZ$100,000
Code of Practice
DOC and Film New Zealand jointly developed a Code of Practice in July 2005 for film crews undertaking activities on public conservation lands. This Code covers such issues as fake snow products, pyrotechnics etc. All permits issued to film crews should include reference to and compliance with the Code as a condition of the permit. Read the Code of Practice for Filming on Public Conservation Lands (PDF, 78K).
Frequently asked questions
Q. Are animals permitted on locations on public conservation land?
A. Horses, dogs and other domestic animals are not permitted within national parks. On other lands animals are generally not permitted with film crews, although exceptions may be made in certain circumstances. Check with the local DOC office for the location for details.
Q. Are pyrotechnics permitted on DOC locations?
A. In highly modified environments some pyrotechnics may be permitted, depending of the effects of the activity, and the measures intended to be taken to remedy, mitigate or avoid the effects.
Q. Are there restrictions on the use of helicopters and/or vehicles in relation to filming on DOC locations?
A. Yes. Vehicles are normally not allowed off formed roads in any areas. In some areas there will be restrictions on where helicopters can land with film crews. You may only fly into/onto DOC locations with DOC approved helicopter operator. Check with the local DOC office for the location for details.
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