Resources

Industry Codes & Guidelines

Essential guides and tools for producers — from LONOs to safety standards — setting the benchmark for screen industry best practice in Aotearoa New Zealand.

In this section, you’ll find information on LONOs, the Spada/Equity IPA, the Blue Book, Health & Safety guidelines and templates, along with other Codes and Guidelines. These resources provide essential information for everyone working in New Zealand’s screen production industry—both local and international—and outline recommended standards that reflect industry best practice.

If you’re unsure how these Codes or Guidelines apply to your production, don’t hesitate to contact us.

LETTERS OF NON OBJECTION (LONOS)

Spada assesses and administers Letters of Non-Objection (LONOs) for producers/executive producers as part of the supporting documentation provided to Immigration NZ when applying for an Entertainers Work Visa. 

To download the application form for a Letter of Non-Objection, click this link. 

If you require additional information about LONOs, please contact us either by email at office@spada.co.nz or by calling (04) 939 6934. 

ENGAGEMENT OF CAST

The Spada/Equity Individual Performance Agreement (the "Agreement") has been amended (Clause 4.1.13 and Clause 12) to reflect the SIWA mandatory terms relating to bullying, discrimination, and harassment processes. More information on the SIWA can be found here.


USE OF THE AGREEMENT
- The Agreement is for use on New Zealand-based and funded feature films and television drama productions. 
- The Agreement is NOT for use on short films. 

The Agreement comprises Key terms and the Standard Terms and Conditions READ ONLY version HERE, and the Back End Agreement: READ ONLY version HERE.

Issuing the Agreement / Licence Agreement
Before the Agreement can be issued, PLEASE FILL OUT THE Spada-Licence-Agreement and return it to the Spada Office (office@spada.co.nz or sandy@spada.co.nz).

An administration fee based on the total production budget is applicable. Note: the fee is waived for Spada members or first-time producers with production budgets under $250,000).

The administration fees are as follows:

(a)   $500 - for productions up to NZD1million
(b)   $1,000 - for productions between NZD1m-NZD3million
(c)   $1,500 - for productions above NZD3million
       (*+ GST) 

 

ENGAGEMENT OF CREW
2023 BLUE BOOK

Produced by SIGANZ in association with Spada and the NZAPG, the Blue Book provides a reference document of best-practice processes for the engagement of freelance crew members in the New Zealand screen production industry.  The Blue Book represents industry guidelines.  Its provisions outline legal responsibilities and suggested best practices.  Production companies and crew members are free to negotiate different arrangements, within the law, if some provisions do not meet the needs of either party.  Nevertheless, the Blue Book outlines many generally accepted ways of working in a manner that is intended to provide useful, mature information in a context that explains why various processes are needed.

Digital copies of the 2023 Blue Book are available for free via the The Screen Guild website. 

 

HEALTH & SAFETY GUIDELINES & TEMPLATES

SCREENSAFE
Safety on-set is everyone's responsibility; however, Producers and Production Companies must have the necessary Health & Safety documentation and processes in place at every stage.


HEALTH AND SAFETY GUIDELINES, TEMPLATES & TRAINING
The ScreenSafe Health & Safety Guidelines and Templates can be accessed either by project stage—for example, Development or Post-Production—or by area of focus, such as Armoury or Child Safety.

> View all Guidelines HERE
> View all Templates HERE
> View all Training HERE

 

SCREEN INDUSTRY WORKERS ACT 2022 (SIWA)

SIWA came into force at the end of December 2022. What does that mean for producers?

Producers must ensure all Individual contracts have the following MANDATORY terms:

  • A term saying parties will comply with the Health and Safety at Work Act and Human Rights Act
  • Bullying, discrimination, and harassment processes (template policy available here)
  • Dispute resolution processes
  • Termination notice periods and payments

All Individual Contracts must also abide by the following six RULES:

  • Duty of good faith applies between workers and their engagers
  • Individual contracts must be in writing
  • Engagers must follow process rules for making and varying individual contracts
  • Individual contracts must contain mandatory terms (existing contracts had until the end of December 2023 to comply)
  • Terms must not be worse than any applicable collective contract (once it has been negotiated)
  • Engagers can’t cancel contracts in retaliation for workers exercising their rights

More details on SIWA and the obligations for Producers HERE 

 

NGAI TAHI FILM GUIDE

Guidelines for screen production companies seeking to film on lands of importance to Ngai Tahu, which include land administered by the Department of Conservation, have been drawn up by Ngai Tahu and Spada.  The guidelines point out intellectual property and location issues that may be of concern to the Iwi so that production companies can either avoid problems or plan a mitigation strategy.  The guidelines include advice and assistance that will help with the necessary consultation process with local tribal councils. Guidelines are available here.

 

CODE OF PRACTICE FOR FILMING ON PUBLIC CONSERVATION LANDS 2005

New Zealand has thirteen national parks and more than five million hectares (approximately a third of New Zealand's landmass) protected as parks and reserves. This land, with its unique vegetation and stunning vistas, is recognised worldwide.  DOC is the guardian of New Zealand's conservation estate and administers its national parks. If you want to film in an area managed by the Department of Conservation (DOC), you need to apply for a concession - more information can be found here.

Code of Practice for Filming on Public Conservation Lands
This code was developed by Film New Zealand and the Department of Conservation for the benefit of the screen production sector. Download here.

 

CODE OF PRACTICE FOR ANIMAL WELFARE

This voluntary Code of Practice sets out recommended standards based on industry best practice that aim to ensure the welfare of animals used in screen productions. All people working in the screen production industry, who from time to time may come into contact with animals, should be familiar with this Code HERE.