Stone Street Studios

Not much to see from the street here. Some concrete slab buildings! But these buildings encompass a number of sound stages that are Stone Street Studios, the living breathing heart of New Zealand's blossoming film industry.

Only two decades ago Mirimar was an average kiwi suburb with a smattering of slow light industry, until the glamour of Wellywood rolled on in and took root right here. Stone Street the indoor filming mecca, and nearby to Peter Jackson's Weta, Wingnut and Park Road facilities.

As anyone connected with the industry knows, there is very little glamour and a lot of hard work involved in films and this is where it takes place. There are enough studios here to shoot two feature films at a time, including on the 24,500 square foot stage built for King Kong. Production facilities are of international standard, including production, art department, construction, wardrobe and make up areas.

Visitors (with a legitimate reason to visit), must be pre-registered at the gatehouse, and are greeted by a very strict security protocol. They must sign a solemn declaration that they will not share anything they learn inside, before they pass through and are escorted to their destination on the premises. Inside, a true slice of Los Angles style action awaits. A mass of trailers including production trailers and proper Hollywood cast RVs crowd the yard, film folk of all nationalities communicating via technnology and good old fashioned shouting all moving swiftly amongst the lights, cameras, cables and chaos. The rest is a secret.

Stone Street proudly advertises the possibility production companies may find themselves eligible for the New Zealand's controversial tax breaks for movie makers. The Lord of the Rings trilogy, King Kong, Waterhorse, Avatar, The Hobbit, and Pete's Dragon are among the movies which have made use of these facilities.