Revenue from filmmaking in New Zealand surged beyond $3 billion in 2012 for the first time.
Statistics New Zealand said revenue from film and TV rose 10% from the previous year, to $3.29 billion, the highest point since the survey started in 2005.
It said the breakthrough was helped by a surge in feature film revenue, rising 47% to more than $1 billion.
Forty feature films were completed in New Zealand last year, five more than in 2011.
That helped push revenue from production and post production, which grew by almost a fifth to $1.7 billion.
Broadcasting revenue rose 4%, while distribution fell slightly and film screening revenue matched 2011's record figures.
Revenue generated by the industry in Wellington rose 67% to more than $800 million last year.
