Approvals granted 14 April 2026
The expert panel for the Ayrburn Screen Hub project granted approvals for the application, subject to conditions.
- Referred
- Applied
- Comments
- Panel considering
- Decision
Project summary
Construction and operation of a film and television production facility, including studios, worker accommodation units, and supporting facilities and amenities.
Project location
About 26 hectares of land at Ayrburn Farm, between Arrowtown and Lake Hayes, Otago.
Project referral
The Minister for Infrastructure referred the project to the Fast-track on 11 May 2025. The application was lodged on 11 February 2025.
Notice of decisions on application for referral of the Ayrburn Screen Hub project (PDF, 160KB)
Completeness decision
The substantive application by Waterfall Parks Development Limited was deemed complete on 12 September 2025. The application complies with the requirements of section 46 (2) of the Fast-track Approvals Act 2024. The application was lodged on 28 August 2025.
Decision on completeness and scope – Ayrburn Screen Hub substantive application (PDF, 81KB)
Competing applications decision
The substantive application by Waterfall Parks Development Limited was deemed to not have any competing applications or existing resource consents on 25 September 2025. This decision is required under section 47 of the Fast-track Approvals Act 2024.
The application has now been referred to the panel convener for determination by a panel.
Decision of appointment of panel and timing of panel decisions
On 30 October 2025 the panel convener issued a minute regarding:
the appointment of the expert panel
the timeframe for panel decisions for the Ayrburn Screen Hub project under clause 2 of section 79 of the Act.
The minute can be viewed on the Correspondence page for the Ayrburn Screen Hub project.
-
-
-
Correspondence
Minutes, directions and other correspondence to and from the panel convener and expert panel regarding the Ayrburn Screen Hub project. -
Conferences, workshops and hearings
Watch and learn more about conferences, workshops and hearings in relation to the Ayrburn Screen Hub project. -
Expert Panel
Information about the expert panel appointed to consider and decide the Ayrburn Screen Hub project. -
Reports and advice
Read reports, advice and further information sought in relation to the Ayrburn Screen Hub project. -
Comments from invited parties
The expert panel invites written comments on the application from the persons or groups set out in section 53(2) of the Fast-track Approvals Act 2024. -
Draft decision and conditions
On 13 March 2026, the Ayrburn Screen Hub expert panel released its draft decision and conditions. -
The decision
The expert panel for the Ayrburn Screen Hub project has granted approvals for the application, subject to conditions.