Studio West is a motion picture and television production facility in West Auckland, New Zealand. Opening in 1996, the studio became the primary filming location for the United States television series Power Rangers in 2002. The eight acre site, 20 minutes from the Auckland City Centre, features four sound stages, including the largest purpose-build sound-stage in Auckland, which opened in 2022.
In addition to Power Rangers, the studio has also been involved in the production of numerous films and television series, including The Vintner's Luck, Under the Mountain, Yogi Bear, Young Hercules and Xena: Warrior Princess.
History
Studio West opened in 1996 as a privately owned studio, operated by husband and wife team Murray and Margaret Sweetman.
In 2002, the Auckland Regional Economic Development Strategy promoted the screen production industry in Auckland as a major driver of economic growth. This led to Studio West being supported to grow by the councils of the Auckland Region in the early 2000s.
Studio West began filming the television series Power Rangers from 2002. The filming for Power Rangers meant that the majority of the studio time was booked out during the 2000s, with many clients turned away.
In 2015, the joint owners of the property, Ralph Davies, Murray Sweetman and David Rowell, all figures within the New Zealand film industry, listed the studio for sale.
Studio West began planning a large expansion project in 2019. The construction was put on hold due to the effects of COVID-19 in New Zealand. In mid-2022, a new studio opened, which became the largest purpose-built sound stage in Auckland, at 3,400 square metres.
Site
The studio is located on an eight acre section of Glen Eden in West Auckland. The studio's currently has four sound stages, measuring , , and . A new fifth studio is planned to be opened in 2023.
Productions
Films Year Name1998Memory & Desire1998A Soldier's Sweetheart2000Jubilee2002SuperFire2002You Wish!2003Eddie's Million Dollar Cook-Off2003Riverworld2004Maiden Voyage2006Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior2006Ozzie2007Johnny Kapahala: Back on Board2007The Tattooist2009The Strength of Water2009The Vintner's Luck2009Under the Mountain2009Skyrunners2010The Kiwi Who Saved Britain2010Avalon High2010Yogi Bear2012Siege2016Pike River2015Cradle2019Guns Akimbo2023The Convert
Television Year Name1998The Amazing Adventures of Moko Toa1999Greenstone1999Forbidden Island1999Young Hercules2000–2003Street Legal2001The Weakest Link2001Xena: Warrior Princess2003–2022Power Rangers2004Serial Killers2014The Great Food Race2015When We Go to War2016–2018Roman Empire2016The Making of the Mob: Chicago2020The Wilds
References
External links