Equipment & Hire
Following is information about film-specific equipment available in New Zealand, as well as contacts and information about more specialised areas.
See Production Contacts: Equipment & Hire Contacts for company details.
Comprehensive listings can be found at The Data Book - the New Zealand film and television industry's reference guide.
Film-Specific Equipment & Hire
Camera
Productions shooting in New Zealand have ready access to the latest high-quality 35mm, 16mm and HD camera equipment.
Local camera rental companies ensure that all leading brands of 16mm and 35mm cameras are available, including Aaton and Mitchell. Top-of-the-line Panavision and Arriflex studio cameras like Panavision XL-2 or Arricam are readily available, together with Panavision Primo lenses, Zeiss Masterprimes, Angenieux and Cooke zooms. The range of accessories expected on a film set in the US or Europe can be hired with the cameras. The major camera suppliers have contacts that allow quick importation of specialist equipment that may be required for a particular production.
Support provided includes service, accessories and consumables.
High-definition cameras such as the Panavision Genesis, Thompson Viper and RED One can be hired in New Zealand, along with an array of Sony, Panasonic and other video equipment from suppliers located around the country.
Specialist equipment including Eyemo, Motion Control and Steadicam are available, along with highly skilled operators.
Underwater photography is catered to with a range of housing, equipment and lights from Pace, Hydroflex and local brand Marine Movies.
See Equipment & Hire Contacts for company details.
Film Stock
The complete range of Kodak and Fujifilm motion picture stock in any quantities is available via local agents, with professional after-sales service and support.
See Equipment & Hire Contacts for company details.
Aerial Filming
New Zealand’s extensive aerial filming capability is underpinned by world-class filming professionals, aerial location scouts, pilots and operators who have undertaken worldwide assignments, with the latest gyro-stabilised camera systems accompanying them as check-in baggage.
The New Zealand aerial filming industry is respected globally. It has developed much of its own filming equipment, including helicopter mounts. Twenty years ago it developed its first nose mount, followed by the purchase of a Flir SD system. Then New Zealand’s leading aerial filmmakers became the first in the world to co-design, purchase and operate a dedicated gyro-stabilised HD Cineflex camera system.
Today the industry offers HD 4:4:4, 4:2:2 and SD gyro-stabilised cameras; SRW1, Betacam and XDCam recording systems; and operators highly experienced with Wescam, Spacecam 35mm and all Tyler mounts. In New Zealand filmmakers also have access to the largest SD and HD gyro-stabilised aerial stock footage library in the Southern Hemisphere.
See Equipment & Hire Contacts and Air Charter & Helicopters for company details.
Grip
International brand-name equipment is readily available in New Zealand. Our grips are also renowned for their ingenuity in making their own world-class equipment and creating specialty items for shot specific requirements.
Available equipment includes:
- Aerial Mounts: Cineflex, Stab C, Tyler, Wescam, Continental, Libra.
- Cranes: Supertechno, Giraffe, Panther, GFM, Movietech, Mathews, Luna (NZ), Jimmy Jib.
- Dollies: Fisher, Chapman, MT Magnum, Panther, Cinetech Super Hawk, Mathews.
- Remote & Fluid Heads: Libra, Flight Head, Megamount, Da Vinci Remote Head, Movietech, Scorpio, AeroHead, Power Pod, Zephyr (NZ), Filmech (NZ), Lambda, Ronford.
- Motion control: Technodolly, Filmech (NZ), Gazelle, Genuflex, Harrison & Watkins (NZ)
- Vehicles: Camera insert cars, low loaders, tracking vehicles, ATVs.
- Camera support: Sliders, Bodymount, Steadicam Rickshaws, Flying Fox Rigs, E-Z Rig
See Equipment & Hire Contacts for company details.
Lighting
There is a solid base of lighting equipment companies within New Zealand, stocking all major lighting brands and accessories. Teamed with highly skilled and creative gaffers, both location and sound stage production lighting requirements can be met locally with ease.
New Zealand has a large fleet of lighting trucks, able to work anywhere in the country. The majority are gaffer owned and operated, and range in capability from 11-metre Feature and TVC equipped trucks to compact lighting /grip combo trucks/vans. Trucks are precisely matched to job and budget, and supported by a fleet of generators.
Equipment available includes:
- Lightning strikes - 100K Soft Suns and 500K lightning FX units
- HMI Fresnels and HMI PAR - 18K Arrimax and down
- Tungsten Fresnels - 24K and down
- Mini and Maxi Brutes up to Dino 24 lights
- Tungsten softlights to 8K
- Underwater lights
- Spacelights
- Chimeras
- Kino Flo - full range
- Blue and green screens
- Full daylight control kits in a range of sizes
- A full range of rock & roll trussing, rigging, dimming and lights
- Balloon lights
- Access machinery for rigging/lamp rigs - any location
- Single dimmers up to 24K
- Lighting control consoles up to 8000 channels
- Silenced truck-mounted generators.
See Equipment & Hire Contacts for company details.
Production Sound
Location sound recording in New Zealand has long been at the forefront of technical excellence, owing to the dedication and skill of the personnel working in the field. The flexible nature of the New Zealand industry has meant that hard disc recording technology has been rapidly adopted, whilst still retaining DAT capability.
New Zealand production sound mixers typically work on a variety of international productions and are experienced with different frame-rate recording and technologies.
Adaptability and flexibility are key components of the excellence achieved in this field.
See Equipment & Hire Contacts for company details.
Special Effects (Physical)
Established SFX companies and technicians in New Zealand have the expertise and equipment for all physical effects work. Licensed pyrotechnicians and armourers ensure local regulations are adhered to and this contributes to an excellent safety record in New Zealand.
New Zealand boasts significant special-effects workshops that have built local and international reputations for craftspeople creating sculptures, making models, and providing pyrotechnics effects, prosthetics and make-up for award-winning films and television commercials.
There is an extensive armoury base, of both modern and historical weaponry, within New Zealand and licensed Armourers to ensure safety and regulatory requirements are fully meet.
The local SFX industry is particularly renowned for its achievements in snowmaking and pyrotechnics.
See Equipment & Hire Contacts for company details.
Generators
Truck-mounted lighting generators are available through lighting companies. Unit or base camp generators are 3 phase and available in many sizes from 3kva to 75kva.
See Equipment & Hire Contacts or visit The Data Book or the Yellowpages for the contact details of hire companies.
Other Specialised Equipment & Hire
Greens and Plants
Greensets is a professional greens company with international film experience. They can provide crew, equipment and machinery, plants and artificial foliage for hire or sale including artificial palm trees, autumn foliage and blossoms.
Bambusero specialises in bamboo construction, scaffolding and props.
Lifts and Cranes
Telecommunications & Radio-Telephone Hire (Walkie Talkies)
IT Equipment Hire
- IT Rentals - Computers, printers, GPS devices, display screens, etc
Portable Buildings
Portacom New Zealand have a wide selection of portable buildings available. They can also construct buildings to your specifications and deliver portable buildings on-site anywhere in New Zealand.
The Roadshow Trust owns and operates a semi-trailer that transforms into a building on location. It can be delivered on-site anywhere in New Zealand.
Portable Toilets, Honey-Wagons and Showers
Portable toilets are available for hire throughout New Zealand. Visit Spik'n'Span, or the Yellow Pages directory and search under 'Portable Toilets/Showers' in the relevant region.
Porta Showers Ltd and Farout Showers Ltd have portable hot water shower facilities available for hire.
Vehicles, Cars, Trucks
The following companies offer film rates and/or film specific vehicles:
Production Vehicles
Winnebago, Star Trailers and Campervans
Winnebago and Star Trailers like those used in the USA, Australia and the United Kingdom are available in New Zealand. The following companies have vehicles for hire. You can check out the models available on their websites:
Marine Support
- Lifeguard & Safety is an Auckland based company offering marine support for filming operations.
- New Zealand Diving & Salvage offers the film industry expertise in the fields of in-water design, construction, vessel supply and support solutions. NZDS own and operate three vessels with multiple capabilities providing a range of options for clients. For more information, contact sol@nzds.co.nz.
- Seaworks is a Wellington based maritime company that offers a specialised service in providing marine support for filming operations. For more information, contact bill.day@seaworks.co.nz.
- Scene Safe is a specialist provider born of the amalgamation of experienced film, health and safety and marine professionals.
- Unimar is a Nelson based company offering marine operations and support services for New Zealand and the Asia Pacific region.
Barges
Filming platforms are available from Myark, an Auckland-based manufacturer of folding trailer barges.
Marine Brokers
New Zealand Marine Brokers Ltd are a commercial ship sales agency operating New Zealand wide that provide:
- Charter of vessels
- Lease of vessels
- Sale purchase of vessels
- Valuation of vessels
Water Tankers
Water tankers are available nationwide should you require water for wet downs and rain effects on location. Visit Spik'n'Span, or the Yellow Pages and search under 'water carriers' in the relevant region.
The New Zealand Fire Service can also help with wet downs and rain effects on application.
