South Pacific Pictures is New Zealand’s largest production company with an international reputation for producing world-class television and film. The company celebrated its 21st anniversary in 2009 and to date has produced more than 3000 hours of programming. Drama series and serials, feature films, and more recently, entertainment, reality and documentaries are all part of the mix.
The current slate includes work for New Zealand, Australian, Canadian and UK broadcasters.
South Pacific Pictures' cornerstone production is the primetime nightly serial drama Shortland Street, now in its 18th year on air in New Zealand and still dominating its 7pm timeslot. Outrageous Fortune, currently airing its fifth season, has cemented its position as New Zealand’s standout drama series. The award-winning and critically acclaimed show has sold into Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom and across Europe. The Outrageous Fortune format has also been licensed to the USA and the UK (Greenlit Rights for ITV) for local adaptations.
On the production slate for 2009 is a second series of the successful drama comedy series, Go Girls and the 90 minute telefeature, Spies and Lies.
Other recent television series produced by South Pacific Pictures include the comedy series Diplomatic Immunity and New Zealand’s Got Talent, the local version of the FremantleMedia entertainment format.
South Pacific Pictures’ feature film highlights have included the 2002 Oscar-nominated feature film Whale Rider and the 2006 comedy Sione’s Wedding which broke box-office records in New Zealand. The company also produced the 2007 feature film, We’re Here to Help. Recent co-productions include the award-winning 2007 documentary series Cook: Obsession and Discovery, telefeature The Man Who Lost His Head (with Greenlit Rights for ITV) and the award-winning Maddigan's Quest, a kids and family drama series for CBBC (UK), Nine Network (Australia) and TV3 (NZ).
South Pacific Pictures’ business partners include:
- SLR Productions, a Sydney-based, Emmy award-winning animation company which produces high-quality television for the international market. South Pacific Pictures owns 50% of SLR Productions.
- South Pacific Pictures owns a 50% share in the company Satellite Media, an integrated media company with TV, interactive and print businesses.
- Kura Productions, a partnership with Quinton Hita. The production company specializes in programming for New Zealand’s Maori Television Service.
South Pacific Pictures is owned by John Barnett and All3Media. The company operates from a purpose-built studio complex in West Auckland. |
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