Submission on the Draft New Zealand Digital Content Strategy
(February 2007)
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Submission to the National Library's November 2006 NZ's Digital Content Strategy Discussion Document (January 2007)
SPADA’s primary focus is to help sustain and grow the domestic screen industry for both economic outcomes and cultural benefits for New Zealand . The advent of the new digital environment brings with it opportunities and challenges to ensure New Zealand audiences have access to the widest range of high quality local content through a variety of production and distribution opportunities. MORE 

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2006 SUBMISSIONS

Submission to the Ministry of Economic Development on The Commissioning Rule, Contracts and the Copyright Act 1994 Discussion Paper (May 2006)
SPADA submitted a response to the Discussion Paper released by the Ministry of Economic Development (the MED). That paper considers two copyright issues: namely, the adequacy of section 21(3) of the Copyright Act 1994 (the Copyright Act) relating to the ownership of copyright in commissioned works (the commissioning rule) and a more general question regarding the relationship between copyright law and contract law. SPADA’s submission focuses on the first issue relating to the commissioning rule, particularly on the various forms of copyright arising in screen production.

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2005 SUBMISSIONS

Response to NZ Screen Council on Enhancements to Large Budget Screen Production Grant Scheme
(February 2005)
SPADA's submission on the potential domestic benefits to the LBSPG considered in the NZSC Discussion Paper supports the multi-funding option and amended bundling option, and suggests an attachment scheme alternative to the training levy enhancement.

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ADVOCACY - Letter to Ministers on continuation of the Film Fund (January 2005)
SPADA coordinated and lead a concerted lobby to key Cabinet ministers requesting recapitalisation and contiuation of the New Zealand Film Fund. The letter was presented as a united front by the industry and drew attention to the overall benefits for the industry, the country, economy and international perceptions of New Zealand. The letter includes case studies from the producers of Whale Rider and Perfect Strangers.

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Read the NZ Screen Council submission here


2004 SUBMISSIONS


Response to the Ministry for Culture & Heritage Screen Funding Agency Review (May 2004)
SPADA submitted a policy paper on issues with government support for the screen industry. The main points of the paper cover contestable funding, local content, risk taking and innovation, communication between agencies, funding streams. It also includes feedback on the proposed structure of funding agencies.

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Submission to the NZFC Draft Strategic Plan 2004 - 2007 (May 2004)
SPADA composed a response which incorporated the views of the broader SPADA membership. The submission comments on NZFC's future and strategic initiatives, including Signature TV, Film Fund, film investment and the NZFC sales agency.

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SUBMISSIONS MADE PRIOR 2004

Joint Submission with Film New Zealand in response to the Department of Conservation Draft General Policies (December 2003)
DOC general policy informs all regional policy, including specific national park policies. This is the first time that such an overall policy has been put together by DOC and therefore SPADA and Film NZ thought that it was particularly important to draft a clear submission on the policy clauses on filming in National Parks. The submission makes the case that the draft wording on the necessity for filming to not have adverse effects, including on values, represents an unworkable scenario for the film industry which would mean such a high threshold that it would prohibit most proposals for filming in national parks. The submission seeks to include and develop industry Codes of Practice and/or Departmental Standard Operating Procedures on filming.
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Submission on Broadcasting in New Zealand – a 2003 Stock-take
In this submission SPADA addresses aspects of the broadcast television screen industry in New Zealand and encourages local content of New Zealand screens.
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Joint Submission from all the guilds in response to the draft guidelines of the Large Budget Film Grants Scheme (September 2003)
A combined letter from all the guilds (the Film Focus Group, NZ Actors Equity, NZ Film and Video Technicians Guild, NZ Writers Guild, Screen Directors Guild of NZ and Spada) was sent to MED in response to the Large Budget Film Grants Scheme Criteria and Guidelines that were sent out on 5 September. It was a momentous achievement to get everyone around the table and in agreement. The letter indicated that long term, sustainable economic growth will only be achieved through the development of the domestic industry and it identified a number of specific criteria for a domestic production expenditure grants scheme. All of the contributing parties hope that the domestic industry will be looked at in conjunction with the large budget grants scheme.
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Submission on the Deferred Deduction Rule (August 2003)
Spada comments on the Deferred Deduction Rule Clause 14 of the Taxation (Annual Rates, GST, Trans-Tasman Imputation and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill. Clause 14 of the Bill introduces the deferred deduction rule. The rule is targeted partly at film and television financing arrangements and it will, therefore, adversely affect the New Zealand film and television industry.
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Submission on the Screen Production Industry Taskforce Report (April 2003)
Spada commends and supports the taskforce report. SPADA seeks clarification on the role and scope of the proposed Screen Council and recommends initiatives targeting industry training incorporate the work already down by the industry guilds in this area.
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FFG submission on the Screen Production Industry Taskforce Report (April 2003)
The Film Focus Group, coordinated by SPADA and led by Grant Campbell and Angela Littlejohn in Wellington and Owen Hughes in Auckland, made an additional submission on the Task Force report, focusing on film industry matters.
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Submission to the Minister of Internal Affairs on the Government Administration Committee Inquiry on the Films Videos and Publications Act 1993 (March 2003)
Spada is concerned that the Government Committee's recommendations are impractical and unreasonable.
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Submission on the Tongariro National Park draft management plan (March 2003)
Spada is concerned about imprecise wording in the plan and that policies and rationales are moving further away from effects based methodologies and towards a prescriptive approach.
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Submission on WTO Services Negotiations 2003 (February 2003)
In considering New Zealand's negotiating position in the upcoming WTO round, SPADA argues that none of the proposals from other countries that negatively affect the cultural sector should be entertained.
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Submission on the MED Position Paper - Digital Technology and the Copyright Act 1994 (February 2003)
SPADA responds to the position paper on Digital Copyright released by the Ministry of Economic Development.
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Signature Television: Questionnaire on key issues, Reply from SPADA (February 2003)
SPADA responds to the recent Signature Television questionnaire and discusses how the scheme could be best implemented.
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Submission on the Fiordland National Park draft management plan (February 2003)
Spada asks that terms used throughout the plan are clarified and that DOC consider re-designating the proposed South West Cameron wilderness area so low level filming activity can occur in the area.
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Resumed WTO Negotiations (June 2002)
SPADA asks Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade negotiators to consider cultural exceptions and provide new thinking.
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SUBMISSIONS MADE PRIOR 2003

The Mt Aspiring Discussion Document. (April 2002)
SPADA requests that the following is considered when the Mt Aspiring National Park Management Plan Draft is composed: That park terms and philosophies are explained and used consistently throughout the draft plan; that film makers are not unnecessarily restricted from flight paths and park zones; that the plan recognises that the increase in park visitors is due mainly to recreational users not film crews and that direct consultation is undertaken with the industry before the draft plan is composed.
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MED Discussion Document - Digital Television. (April 2002)
SPADA argues that local content must not be forgotten in the maze of technical and political issues being considered by the Ministry of Economic Development in its discussion paper on Digital Television.
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The Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park Draft Management Plan. (March 2002)
SPADA raises concerns about the draft plan's proposals for restricting filming concessions and is worried about the ramifications for filming in conservation lands across New Zealand.
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Mass Marketed Tax Schemes (February 2002)
This letter sets out SPADA's submissions in relation to the Mass-marketed Tax Schemes Issues Paper published by Inland Revenue's Policy Advice Division and Treasury in January 2002.
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The Television New Zealand Bill (February 2002)
SPADA supports the overall intent to require TVNZ to operate more as a public broadcaster. The submission provides comments and suggestions on three main areas of the Bill; the proposed structure of the TVNZ Group (TVNZG), the content of the Charter and reporting and accountability
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The Maori Television Bill (February 2002)
SPADA supports the introduction of the Maori Television Service. The submission focuses on Governance and Accountability and Editorial Freedom within the Service.
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The Health and Safety In Employment Amendment Bill (February 2002)
SPADA raises concerns about the lack of clarity within the Bill and areas where provisions in the Bill may have unforeseen circumstances.
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ABA Content Standard Review (January 2002)
SPADA's submission provides comments on the Australian Broadcasting Authority's review of the Australian Content Standard (Australia's quota mechanism) and suggests that, overall, the system appears to be working well.
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SUBMISSIONS MADE PRIOR 2002

Digital Technology and the Copyright Act 1994.
The Ministry of Economic Development released a discussion paper on digital technology and copyright law earlier this year (available on www.med.govt.nz). SPADA's submission argues for upgrading of copyright protection for copyright owners and legislation that is technologically neutral.
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Performers Rights
The Ministry of Economic Development released a discussion paper on perfomers' rights earlier this year (available on www.med.govt.nz). SPADA's submission argues that the existing legislation is sufficient to cover performers' needs and that it is sufficiently flexible to allow the parties to do business in the existing commercial environment.
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The Gaming Reform In New Zealand
Specifically about the Lotteries Commission funding of the New Zealand Film Commission.
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The Inquiry of the Government Administration Committee into the operations of the Films, Videos and Publications Classification Act 1993 and related issues
SPADA raises concerns that this Inquiry, with such far-reaching implications, has been conducted with inadequate publicity and consultation. Makes submissions on nine points in the terms of reference.
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Parallel Importing and the Creative Industries
SPADA urges the Select Committee to recommend a two-year ban on parallel importation of film and television product, because of the special nature of our industry and its window-based system of distribution.
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Proposed Treaty for the Protection of Audiovisual Performances
SPADA supports the adoption of Alternative E with respect to Article 12 as the implementation of this clause would provide the requisite degree of certainty that a producer requires to establish its chain of title to a film or television production for the purposes of exploiting the Production.
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TVNZ Draft Charter
SPADA's response to the TVNZ Draft Charter released in October 2000.
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Inquiry Into New Zealand's Economic And Trade Relationship With Australia
SPADA urges the Select Committee to recommend that a side agreement be negotiated to the Trade In Services Protocol for CER to allow for a specific cultural exception for a quota system when both countries operate such a mechanism, and also to recommend that the concept of cultural exceptions to trade negotiations be incorporated into trade policy
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Employment Relations Bill
SPADA is primarily concerned that clause 6 of the Bill, the definition of an employee, and Clause 81, dealing with fixed term contracts, do not fit with the procedures and practices of the screen production industry as they relate to the provision of goods and services by independent contractors. These procedures and practices are standard in the international screen production industry.
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