Hawke’s Bay’s No8 Studios Limited seeks new location after landowner changes plans

• An international film studio is still planned to be built in Hawke’s Bay, but not in Te Awanga.
• No8 Studios director Tony Keddy is now seeking a new site.
• Keddy aims to start building by the end of next year, highlighting Hawke’s Bay’s film production potential.

An international film studio is still being planned to be built in Hawke’s Bay - but not in Te Awanga.

No8 Studios Limited director Tony Keddy said the building of the studio has hit “a hiccup” with the owners of the land the studio was to be built on wanting “to go in a different direction”.

“I’m just looking for a new site,” Keddy said.

“I have two in line which I’m going to look at early next year.”

Hastings District Council (HDC) granted the project resource consent in December 2022 after some objections from Te Awanga residents. This was then appealed by Andrew Caseley, a nearby resident of the site.

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Environment Court mediation then took place between Caseley, No8 Studios and HDC which concluded in February, allowing plans to be put in motion for the multimillion-dollar Parkhill Studios facility to be built on farmland at Te Awanga Downs.

Hastings Mayor Sandra Hazlehurst said at the time it was a positive addition to Hastings’ economy as it recovers from Cyclone Gabrielle.

“It will bring employment and career pathway opportunities in cutting-edge technology. It will showcase Hastings and Hawke’s Bay to New Zealand and the world.”

Nearby residents Rachel and Gary Deakin said they were “surprised” to learn of the studio relocation. Rachel said the couple were never against the studio being built, but did have some concerns at the time about what effect it would have on traffic in the neighbourhood.

When reached for comment, an HDC spokeswoman said the matter was private and it had no comment.

Keddy said it was about getting “everything in place” for the studio, especially after Hawke’s Bay has taken “a beating” with Cyclone Gabrielle.

“Hopefully by the end of next year we should be building.”

Keddy, who has worked as a key grip on local and international productions since 1990, believes that Hawke’s Bay is a great place for any kind of film production, thanks to its abundance of unique locations, accommodation, catering, transport and infrastructure.

“The starting pool is already there and that makes a huge difference.”

He and his wife Emma Slade, who runs the production company Firefly Films, are currently shooting a film adaptation of Joy Cowley’s Holy Days in Canterbury.

They are set to move into their new Hawke’s Bay home later this month.

“We’re coming there to live this Christmas and we’re going to start making films in the Bay,” Keddy said.

Jack Riddell is a multimedia journalist with Hawke’s Bay Today and spent the last 15 years working in radio and media in Auckland, London, Berlin and Napier. He reports on all stories relevant to residents of the region, along with pieces on art, music, and culture.