Helensville a hit with Hollywood

Hollywood actor James Caan, one of the stars of The Godfather, is relishing his latest role as sheriff of Helensville. The town, 50km northwest of Auckland, becomes a small American town for the shooting of Caan's latest film, Hearts of Men.

Scenes are being filmed at Helensville's turn-of-the-century buildings such as the former Post Office and Bank of New Zealand. The town made such an impression that the script was changed to name the fictional town Helensville.