Assistant Directors
Experienced 1st and 2nd ADs managing productions across Wellington, Auckland, and New Zealand's epic landscapes.
The assistant director drives the organizational engine of New Zealand productions, where shoots span some of the world's most dramatic landscapes alongside world-class studio facilities. From coordinating at Stone Street Studios in Wellington — home to Avatar and Lord of the Rings — to managing location shoots across Queenstown's mountains or Canterbury's plains, the 1st AD navigates a production environment where epic scale meets practical Kiwi problem-solving.
NeedAFixer connects you with New Zealand ADs who bring experience on the country's biggest international productions. Our network includes professionals who have worked alongside Weta Workshop and Park Road Post, with practical knowledge of the NZSPG (up to 40% screen production grant), DOC permitting for national parks, iwi consultation protocols, and the logistics of shooting across both islands.
ACT 01
Capabilities
Complete AD Services
From pre-production scheduling through wrap, our assistant directors provide the organizational leadership that keeps productions efficient and on track.
01
1st Assistant Director
- Set management & control
- Shooting schedule execution
- Director collaboration
- Crew coordination
- Safety oversight
Set Leadership
02
2nd Assistant Director
- Call sheet preparation
- Talent coordination
- Background management
- Paperwork & reports
- 1st AD support
Production Support
03
AD Team Services
- 2nd 2nd ADs
- Key set PAs
- Crowd marshals
- Base camp coordination
- Multi-unit support
Complete Teams
04
Pre-Production
- Schedule breakdown
- Day-out-of-days
- Strip board creation
- Location logistics
- Shooting order planning
Prep Excellence
ACT 02
Why Us
Why Choose Our Assistant Directors
01.
New Zealand Production Expertise
Our ADs have credits on major international features including Avatar and Lord of the Rings. They bring proven expertise managing large-scale productions across New Zealand's extraordinary but logistically challenging landscapes.
02.
Studio & DOC Knowledge
ADs familiar with Stone Street Studios, Auckland Film Studios, and DOC national park permitting. They navigate the NZSPG (up to 40%), iwi consultation requirements, and coordinate with Screen Auckland and Film Wellington.
03.
Native English Communication
Native English speakers with deep understanding of international production expectations and New Zealand crew culture. They coordinate with iwi representatives for culturally significant locations and manage Maori protocol requirements.
04.
Epic Scale Scheduling
Expert schedule management for productions spanning both North and South Islands. Our ADs plan around New Zealand's changeable weather, DOC park access seasons, and coordinate helicopter and 4WD logistics for remote mountain and fiord locations.
On Location
First ADs anchoring Stone Street and Auckland Film Studios call-sheet operations
Here is how this works in practice. Our first assistant directors run the on-set ops spine across Stone Street Studios Wellington, Auckland Film Studios, Kumeu Film Studios (Avatar 2/3), Avalon Studios, and on-location across Hobbiton Matamata, the Mackenzie Country, Tongariro, Fiordland, Queenstown, and The capital's Te Aro and Cuba Street precincts. First ADs prep shooting schedules in Movie Magic Scheduling and Showrunner against the director's shot list, build day-out-of-days for talent and special-gear continuity, manage call sheets through Set Hero and Studio Binder distribution to crew and HODs, and run set blocking, crowd running, and continuity-team coordination on the floor. We set up with second ADs handling talent wrangling, third ADs running background extras, and runner / set PA teams keeping the set moving on schedule. DEGNZ contracts cover first AD engagements with reciprocal DGA terms for US co-productions. SPADA frameworks cover second / third AD and PA engagements. ACC universal accident cover protects all AD-department crew on every shooting day.
Here is the short of it. Heritage runs through the Lord of the Rings / Hobbit Wellington AD bench (Carolynne Cunningham first-AD'd large portions of the Jackson productions), the Avatar: The Way of Water Kumeu first-AD team, and the Power of the Dog Mackenzie Country first-AD work — 25-year-deep body-level knowledge of weather-contingency planning for the famous NZ '4 seasons in 1 day' shooting environment.
Here is how this works in practice. Iwi consultation is mandatory for shooting days that touch marae, wāhi tapu, or pounamu/taonga-major locations, with tikanga-compliant kaumātua liaison built into the call-sheet and pōwhiri (welcoming ceremony) lodging on day-one of iwi-territory shoots. DOC permit conditions feed directly into AD-team daily schedules across Fiordland, Tongariro, Aoraki/Mount Cook, Mount Aspiring, and Westland Tai Poutini. WorkSafe NZ rigging and crowd-management regs govern on-set safety. GST 15 percent applies on NZD invoicing. NZSPG 25 percent grant offsets qualifying production spend.
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FAQ
AD Department Expertise
What does a 1st Assistant Director do in New Zealand?
The 1st AD runs the set — managing the shooting schedule, coordinating all departments, and ensuring the director focuses on creative decisions. In New Zealand, the 1st AD also manages DOC national park permits, coordinates iwi consultation for culturally significant locations, and plans around weather-dependent mountain and coastal shoots.
What's the difference between 1st and 2nd AD?
The 1st AD runs the set during shooting, while the 2nd AD handles logistics off-set — preparing call sheets, coordinating talent movements, managing background artists, and handling production paperwork. On larger productions, they work as a team with the 2nd supporting the 1st's set management.
How do iwi consultation requirements work?
Many New Zealand locations have cultural significance to local iwi (Maori tribes). Our ADs coordinate with iwi representatives during pre-production to ensure cultural protocols are respected, which may include karakia (blessings) and restrictions on certain activities in sacred areas.
How does the NZSPG incentive work?
The New Zealand Screen Production Grant offers up to 40% on qualifying spend. Our ADs understand the documentation requirements and work with line producers to ensure on-set operations support NZSPG eligibility.
Can you provide AD teams for multi-unit productions?
Yes, we staff complete AD departments including 1st ADs, 2nd ADs, 2nd 2nd ADs, and additional support for main unit, second unit, and splinter units. We coordinate to ensure consistent communication across all units.
What experience do your ADs have?
Our AD roster includes professionals with credits on major international productions at Stone Street Studios including Avatar and the Lord of the Rings trilogy, as well as features and series shot across both islands of New Zealand.
Related Services
Related Support Roles
ACT 04 — On Set
Need an AD Team?
Tell us about your production and we'll recommend experienced assistant directors.