Productions filmed in the Bay of Plenty
We are proud to present a gallery of successful international and local productions that have chosen Bay of Plenty as a filming destination.
International productions

Prehistoric Planet (2020)
Film Bay of Plenty assisted in locating the NZ location which was specific in needing ferns backed by tall ancient trees. Whirinaki was the perfect place with Kawerau District Council, DOC and local Iwi all assisting in allowing the production to film in this amazing area.
Prehistoric Planet is a British-American five-part nature documentary streaming television series about dinosaurs that premiered on Apple TV+ beginning May 23, 2022.
It is produced by the BBC Studios Natural History Unit with Jon Favreau as showrunner, visual effects by MPC, and narration by natural historian David Attenborough.
Show
TV Mini Series
Filming Locations

Mulan (2019)
Studio & Budget
Walt Disney | $200 Million
Filming Locations
White Island (Whakaari)

Pete’s Dragon (2016)
The forest scenes for Disney’s Pete’s Dragon were shot in a forestry area near Rotorua and Tokoroa in the Central North Island. The forest is home to giant Californian Redwoods, which made it the perfect double for America. Three days was also spent filming in a house on the outskirts of Rotorua (Ngongotahā), with cast and crew based largely in Rotorua during the duration of the shoot.
Studio & Budget
Walt Disney | $65 Million
Filming Locations

Yogi Bear (2010)
Rotorua and Taupō hotels were used as Production Hubs and to house around 200 crew. Filming was at a number of central locations such as Whakamaru Lake and Aratiatia Rapids. Local crew managed much of the safety of the raft shots at the rapids.
Studio & Budget
Warner Bros | $80 Million
Filming Locations
Aratiatia Rapids
Rotorua District

The Chronicles of Narnia:
The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (2010)
Studio & Budget
Walt Disney | $155 Million
Filming Locations
White Island (Whakaari)

Boy (2010)
Filming Locations
Waihau Bay
East Cape

Without a Paddle (2004)
Studio & Budget
Paramount & De Line | $19 Million
Filming Locations
Rotorua District
Local productions

muru (2022)
A dramatisation inspired by actual events, MURU is the story of a local Police Sergeant ‘Taffy’ Tawharau (Cliff Curtis), who must choose between his badge and his people, when the Government launches an armed raid through his Rūātoki community, on a school day.
Film Bay of Plenty assisted in locations, finding crew, equipment and services, creating connections with iwi, councils and Government entities.
Show
Film
Filming Locations
Te Urewera in Eastern Bay of Plenty
Tāneatua
Rūātoki

vegas (2021)
On one blood-stained night a drug deal gone wrong sets off a chain of events for dangerous factions and an innocent bystander, in this action thriller set in the small tourist town of Wairoto.
Show & Budget
TV Series | NZ$5.6 Million
Filming Locations
Rotorua District
Copthorne Bar
White St Studios
TECT Terrain Park Western Bay

Runaway Millionaires (2019)
Film Bay of Plenty assisted the production locally with helping find locations and crew, and linking them to local service providers in the region. There were 40 base crew and 30 cast.
Show & Budget
Film | NZ$2.7 Million
Filming Locations
Rotorua District

Saviour
Premiered as part of the Best of NZ at NZIFF (NZ International Film Festival) 2022 and filmed at Rotoruas stunning Lake Ōkataina
Show
Short Film
Filming Locations

Cousins (2021)
Connected by blood but separated by circumstances, three cousins spend a lifetime in search of each other. Based on the 1992 novel by Patricia Grace.
A number of Rotorua shooting locations were used in the film and casting of the main characters and extras was all done locally.
Ainsley Gardiner (Producer) says “it’s always rewarding and that one of the coolest things when you make a film is going back to the community and showing it with them, so it was great to have the premiere in Rotorua. We had such a lovely time in Rotorua, it was really special being there and filming in the community.” There was also amazing talent found in the area, with beautiful, talented children’
Show
Film
Filming Locations
Rotorua District – Kerosine Creek

Colonial Combat (2019)
Show
TV Series
Filming Locations
Rotorua District
Lake Rotoiti
Lake Rotoma
Waiiti Stream

Rain of the Children (2008)
A woman walks between the worlds of the living and the dead in search of her lost children.
Many Tuhoe descendants played parts, recreating scenes their ancestors had experienced.
Show
Film
Filming Locations
Tūhoe country in Te Urewera Ranges