Henderson Valley Studios
Encyclopedia
Henderson Valley Studios is New Zealand
's largest film studio complex, located in Henderson
, West Auckland
. Entrances to the complex are on on Hickory Ave, Henderson Valley Road and Rabone Street, Henderson.
The complex was originally built as insulated fruit store houses, hence their nickname, the 'cool stores'. Henderson Valley Studios have been used as film studios since 1994 when they were occupied by the television series Hercules
and Xena
, but since these shows ended, the studios have been home to such films and television shows as:
The studios are also used for countless television commercials.
The studios are laid out over a 4ha site, between Henderson Valley Rd and Railside Ave. Within this site are 4 (soon to be 5) Sound Stages, 2 Production Office spaces, Prop and Costume workshops, as well as various commercial film related operations.
In late 2006, New Zealand's biggest sound stage began construction at Henderson Valley Studios scheduled for completion in mid 2007. This sound stage is purpose built and bigger than that owned by Peter Jackson
at his Stone St Studios complex in Wellington.
The studios have been owned by Enterprise Waitakere, the business arm of the Waitakere City Council since 2002. It is because of studios such as Henderson Valley, South Pacific Pictures and Studio West, that West Auckland has been dubbed 'Westiewood'.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
's largest film studio complex, located in Henderson
Henderson, New Zealand
Henderson is a major suburb of Auckland, in the North Island of New Zealand. It is located 13 kilometres to the west of Auckland city centre, and two kilometres to the west of the Whau River, a southwestern arm of the Waitemata Harbour.-Description:...
, West Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
. Entrances to the complex are on on Hickory Ave, Henderson Valley Road and Rabone Street, Henderson.
The complex was originally built as insulated fruit store houses, hence their nickname, the 'cool stores'. Henderson Valley Studios have been used as film studios since 1994 when they were occupied by the television series Hercules
Hercules: The Legendary Journeys
Hercules: The Legendary Journeys is a television series, filmed in New Zealand and the United States. It was produced from 1995, and was very loosely based on the tales of the classical Greek culture hero Heracles...
and Xena
Xena: Warrior Princess
Xena: Warrior Princess is an American–New Zealand supernatural fantasy adventure series that aired in syndication from September 4, 1995 until June 18, 2001....
, but since these shows ended, the studios have been home to such films and television shows as:
- The Whale RiderThe Whale RiderWhale Rider is a 2002 New Zealand drama film directed by Niki Caro, based on the novel of the same name by Witi Ihimaera. The film stars Keisha Castle-Hughes as Kahu Paikea Apirana, a 12-year-old girl struggling to become the chief of the tribe. Her grandfather Koro believes that this is a role...
- BoogeymanBoogeyman (film)Boogeyman is a 2005 American production psychological horror film, directed by Stephen T. Kay. The film is a take on the classic "boogeyman", or monster in the closet.-Plot:...
- In My Father's DenIn My Father's Den (film)In My Father's Den is a 2004 New Zealand film written and directed by Brad McGann and starring Matthew Macfadyen and Emily Barclay. It is based on the novel of the same title by Maurice Gee...
- The Lion, the Witch and the WardrobeThe Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the WardrobeThe Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is a 2005 epic fantasy adventure film directed by Andrew Adamson and based on The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, the first published and second chronological novel in C. S. Lewis's children's epic fantasy series, The Chronicles of...
- 30 Days of Night30 Days of Night (film)30 Days of Night is a 2007 American horror film based on the comic book miniseries of the same name. The film is directed by David Slade and stars Josh Hartnett, Melissa George, and Danny Huston...
- Maddigan's QuestMaddigan's QuestMaddigan's Quest was a fantasy-based television series set in a post-apocalyptic future. It was based on an original concept by Margaret Mahy and was developed for television by Gavin Strawhan and Rachel Lang...
- Matuku
- Bridge to TerabithiaBridge to Terabithia (2007 film)Bridge to Terabithia is a 2007 fantasy drama film directed by Gábor Csupó and adapted for film by David L. Paterson and Jeff Stockwell. The film is based on the Katherine Paterson novel of the same name, and distributed by Walt Disney Pictures in the US. The film stars Josh Hutcherson, AnnaSophia...
- DeceitDeceit (2004 film)Deceit is a 2004 American television movie adapted from the 2000 British television serial of the same name. Marlo Thomas, the film's leading actress, also served as executive producer. This crime film follows Ellen McCarthy in her attempt to determine the circumstances of her rich husband's...
- No. 2
- Are You Smarter than a 10 Year Old?Are You Smarter Than A 10 Year Old? (New Zealand)Are You Smarter Than a 10 Year Old? was a New Zealand game show broadcast on the TV2 channel. It was based on the United States game show Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader?...
- The Warriors Way
- Legend of the SeekerLegend of the SeekerLegend of the Seeker is a television series based on The Sword of Truth novels by Terry Goodkind. Distributed in U.S. by Disney-ABC Domestic Television, ABC Studios produced the series, which was its first foray into broadcast syndication, with Sam Raimi, Robert Tapert, Joshua Donen, Ned Nalle and...
The studios are also used for countless television commercials.
The studios are laid out over a 4ha site, between Henderson Valley Rd and Railside Ave. Within this site are 4 (soon to be 5) Sound Stages, 2 Production Office spaces, Prop and Costume workshops, as well as various commercial film related operations.
In late 2006, New Zealand's biggest sound stage began construction at Henderson Valley Studios scheduled for completion in mid 2007. This sound stage is purpose built and bigger than that owned by Peter Jackson
Peter Jackson
Sir Peter Robert Jackson, KNZM is a New Zealand film director, producer, actor, and screenwriter, known for his The Lord of the Rings film trilogy , adapted from the novel by J. R. R...
at his Stone St Studios complex in Wellington.
The studios have been owned by Enterprise Waitakere, the business arm of the Waitakere City Council since 2002. It is because of studios such as Henderson Valley, South Pacific Pictures and Studio West, that West Auckland has been dubbed 'Westiewood'.