Movie cash injection defended

Associate Arts Minister Judith Tizard has rejected Act claims that the Government should not invest in "risky projects" such as the River Queen movie.

Acclaimed New Zealand director Vincent Ward has been axed from the troubled film, raising questions about its future.

Act MP Deborah Coddington said the Government was "playing roulette" with taxpayers' money by investing in the venture.

"No one doubts Mr Ward's enormous creative talents, but the reason this movie struggled to get backing was because it was considered high-risk," she said.

The size of the Film Commission's investment in the $13 million production is not known but a figure of $3 million has been widely reported. The Lord of the Rings director Peter Jackson made his first four movies with taxpayer-backing. Taxpayers' cash also helped to fund the successful Whale Rider and In My Father's Den.

Ms Tizard said 25 years of Government investment in films had brought huge benefits for New Zealand in the form of jobs and film-making experience.

It had also given New Zealand an overseas profile as a creative nation.

River Queen producer Don Reynolds said a replacement for Ward was being considered.

- NZPA