$300m, 12-level, twin-tower build-to-rent scheme planned beside West Auckland film studios

“West Auckland’s creative future is gaining momentum as award-winning developer John Love and his company Love & Co are confirmed to lead Te Puna Living mixed-use development, part of Te Puna Creative Innovation Hub,” the Love & Co statement said.

“That is a landmark, transit-oriented development set to transform Henderson into a centre of urban and creative innovation.”

Under Love & Co, the precinct would deliver more than $300m in investment and feature two architecturally designed residential towers, Love said.

Creative studio spaces and commercial hubs were also planned for the growing film studio workforce, he said.

Consultant John Dalzell said the first two towers would be worth about $100 million.

“There are a further four sites, so $300m is the current forecast development cost in the first five years of a 10-year plan for the transit-oriented development.”

Auckland Council via Tātaki Auckland Unlimited and Te Kawerau ā Maki had worked together on Te Puna Creative Innovation Hub.

The new apartments are to be called Te Puna Living, Love’s statement said.

The developments would “serve as a flagship for Auckland’s regeneration, linking housing, infrastructure and creative enterprise”.

The apartment plans come after a report that a consortium led by actor and producer Cliff Curtis intend to purchase the council-owned Auckland Film Studios.

The Herald’s Shayne Currie has reported how the studios had played a pivotal role in the production of almost 50 international and local movies and TV shows in the past three decades, including the Xena and Hercules TV series, Avatar: The Way of Water and A Minecraft Movie.

Love said the apartments were planned at the same time as the sale.

“Together, these two initiatives will reinforce Henderson’s position as the heart of New Zealand’s screen-production ecosystem – combining world-class creative facilities with new housing, commercial and innovation precincts."

Love is yet to pay the council $3m for the 18-level heritage CAB building he converted into apartments because he has not sold all the units or repaid his Australian financier about $70m owed.

Former Waitākere Mayor Sir Bob Harvey endorsed Love’s plans.

“John Love and his team bring the experience, vision and leadership needed to ensure this development not only transforms the skyline but strengthens the creative and cultural fabric of West Auckland,” Harvey said in the written statement.

The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment administers the screen production rebate.

The Government’s handout to get more TV and film productions here had offered 20% for overseas and 40% for domestic productions.

In May, Willis announced she was tipping $577m into the scheme at the Budget to reflect the higher-than-expected demand on the subsidy.

This means the rebate will total $1.09 billion over the four-year forecast period, she said in May.

Winton Land also plans a $200m southern film hub at its Ayrburn hospitality precinct outside Arrowtown, beside Millbrook.

That is to be an all-inclusive centre, enabling people to work and stay on site during filming, production and post-production, Winton said in May.

Studio buildings, workrooms, office space for film departments, dressing rooms, a screening room and meeting spaces are planned and the project has been referred for fast-tracking by Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop.

A 185-room accommodation building for workers and visitors is planned at Ayrburn.

Anne Gibson has been the Herald‘s property editor for 25 years, written books and covered property extensively here and overseas.