SCENE 01 / GAFFER LIGHTING TEAM
Gaffer & Lighting Services New Zealand
Professional gaffers and lighting crews with expertise in LED, HMI, and tungsten systems. From intimate interviews to large-scale nighttime shoots across New Zealand.
The gaffer and lighting team translate the Director of Photography's vision into practical lighting setups on set. In New Zealand, gaffers work at Stone Street Studios Wellington, Auckland Film Studios, and on location across the country's dramatic landscapes — from the same locations that brought Lord of the Rings to life.
We assemble experienced gaffer and lighting teams matched to your production's scale, style, and technical requirements. With equipment sourced through rental houses like Panavision NZ and Wellington-based suppliers, our team coordinates crew availability, equipment sourcing, and department logistics so your lighting team arrives fully prepared.
Capabilities
Lighting Department Solutions
From intimate interview setups to large-scale feature productions, we provide experienced gaffers and complete electric crews tailored to your project's needs.
01
Feature & TV
- Cinematic lighting design
- Large-scale set lighting
- Night exterior setups
- Practical integration
- Period and stylized looks
Narrative Excellence
02
Commercial
- Product lighting
- Tabletop photography
- Beauty and fashion
- Food cinematography
- High-key brand looks
Brand Impact
03
Live Events
- Concert and performance
- Corporate presentations
- Award ceremonies
- Fashion shows
- Live broadcast lighting
Event Production
04
Corporate
- Interview setups
- Office and facility
- Training videos
- Webinar production
- Executive portraits
Professional Content
On Location
Gaffer-Led Lighting Crews for NZ Features, Series, and Commercials
Here is how this works in practice. Our gaffers-led lighting teams in New Zealand structure crews to scale: a feature-tier package runs gaffers plus 4-6 best boys / electrics / lighting techs for Stone Street Studios and Kumeu Film Studios sound-stage work, while commercial and broadcast crews compress to gaffers plus 2-3 across Auckland's Henderson Studios, Avalon Studios in Lower Hutt, and Wellington Film Studio.
Here is how this works in practice. Standard inventory blends ARRI SkyPanel S60/S360 and Orbiter, Aputure Nova P600c and LS 1200d, Litepanels Gemini, classic ARRI / Mole-Richardson tungsten heads for traditionalist DPs, and Hi/Lo Genie towers for South Island night exteriors at Glenorchy, Mount Sunday (LOTR Edoras), and the Mackenzie. The capital's Wellywood lighting heritage — anchored in the LOTR / Hobbit / King Kong / Avatar Way of Water production lineage out of Stone Street, Park Road Post, and Weta — gives every gaffers team practical experience with epic-scale lighting plots.
Here is the short of it. Health, safety, and union compliance run through every booking: WorkSafe NZ rules for working at height, electrical certification under the Electricity Act, ACC universal accident insurance, and MEAA-Equity NZ reciprocal credentials for trans-Tasman crew rotations. Iwi/hapū consultation applies on culturally sensitive sets such as Hobbiton (Ngāti Hauā), Tongariro (Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Ngāti Rangi, Whanganui iwi), Aoraki/Mount Cook (Ngāi Tahu), and Te Papa precinct work in Wellington. We set up NZSPG 20% + 5% productivity uplift records through the New Zealand Film Commission, route lighting permits through Screen Auckland and Screen The capital, and bundle the Wellywood-tier gaffers pool experience from Andrew Lesnie's LOTR joint work through Ari Wegner's Power of the Dog and the ongoing Rings of Power Amazon Prime production based in Auckland.
FAQ
Our Lighting Network
What does a gaffer do on set?
The gaffer is the head of the electrical/lighting department, responsible for executing the DP's lighting vision. They design lighting setups, manage the electric crew, coordinate equipment, and ensure safe power distribution throughout the production.
What crew positions are in a lighting department?
A full lighting department includes: Gaffer (department head), Best Boy Electric (gaffer's assistant, manages crew and equipment), Electricians/Sparks (set up and operate lights), and on larger productions, Rigging Gaffers and Generator Operators.
Do your lighting crews bring their own equipment?
Crew and equipment are typically separate. We can coordinate equipment packages from New Zealand rental houses to complement your crew booking. Some gaffers have personal equipment for smaller productions.
How many electricians do I need for my production?
Crew size depends on production scale: small shoots may need just a gaffer, medium productions typically need gaffer plus best boy and 1-2 electricians, while larger productions require full departments with rigging crews.
Can your lighting crews work with international DPs?
Yes. Our gaffers are experienced working with international cinematographers and understand international terminology, techniques, and workflow expectations. Many are fluent English New Zealand-English.
Do you provide generators and power distribution?
We coordinate generator hire and distribution equipment through our rental partners. Generator operators can be included in crew packages for productions requiring significant power infrastructure.
Related Services
Productions in New Zealand that need this often pair it with LED Lighting Systems, Portable Power Solutions, and Grip Services for full coverage. Most projects also draw on Gimbal Filming and Virtual Production.
On Set
Need a Lighting Team?
Tell us about your production and we'll recommend the right gaffer and crew for your lighting needs.