Winton’s Queenstown film & TV hub gets fast-track go ahead

14th April 2026 By Paul Yandall | paul@propertyticker.co.nz | @propertyticker

Winton Land Limited’s full-service film and television production village, Ayrburn Screen Hub, has been granted Fast-track approval.

The proposal from Winton subsidiary Waterfall Park Developments Limited is for a 7,200 square metre hub with studios, offices, and 201 accommodation units on the applicant’s 26-hectare Ayrburn Farm property between Arrowtown and Lake Hayes near Queenstown.

“Approval has taken around five months following the commencement of an expert panel,” Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop said.

“Waterfall Park Developments Limited expect building Ayrburn Screen Hub to inject about $280m into the local economy and support around 640 jobs across the wider Otago region. Once operating, it is expected to support about 370 local jobs each year.

Bishop said the screen sector makes a significant contribution to the economy.

“Once complete, Ayrburn will allow Queenstown to attract international productions and provide high-quality facilities for local filmmakers. Purpose-built infrastructure will help New Zealand compete for high value international productions.”

Winton said it was pleased that approval has been granted, subject to conditions, under the Fast-track Approvals Act 2024.

“The Ayrburn Screen Hub is an all inclusive film studio enabling users to work and stay onsite through filming, production and post-production with studio buildings, workrooms, office space for film departments, dressing rooms, a screening room and meeting space, with accompanying 201 unit accommodation for film workers and visitor accommodation when there aren’t films in production,” the developer said.

Winton’s general manager for Queenstown, Lauren Christie, said the decision will deliver meaningful employment and economic growth for the region and significantly strengthen New Zealand’s film and television infrastructure.

It would also provide further improvements to water quality beyond the gains already achieved across the wider Ayrburn site.

Winton added that while the Fast-track expert panel issued its final decision today, it remains subject to the statutory 20 working day appeal period.

More information on the project is available on the government’s Fast-track website here.