The Maniototo is abuzz with another American western movie being filmed near Naseby.

Maniototo Community Board member Stu Duncan confirmed there was a hive of activity out on Hills Creek, with houses, stables and other buildings being erected on site.

The movie set is just 1km away from where kiwi screenwriter Jane Campion’s The Power of the Dog was filmed back in 2021.

The Maniototo landscape had a starring role in award-winning film The Power of the Dog. PHOTO: SUPPLIED

A recent Ranfurly Facebook post by a Queenstown woman was asking for film crew accommodation from between September 28 and December 20, and again from January 6 to February 2.

“This is when the bulk of the crew will need housing for approximately 250 people,” the post said.

Smaller numbers would still be around from February 2 to February 28.

“We are looking for all types of housing - from cheap and cheerful studios all the way up to high calibre for directors, producers and potentially cast.”

Naseby has become somewhat of a filming hub, with scenes from Goodbye Pork Pie also filmed there, as well as a Japanese movie called The Promise.

Stu said he understood it was a Netflix film but was reluctant to give away too much detail. 

Naturally those involved with the film crew were sworn to secrecy.

“But it’s quite a big set up. There is a lot of people living in Naseby at the moment and they need a lot of accommodation.”

“It’s pretty valuable to our community and it was the same with The Power of the Dog.”

Stu said film crew were also building new roads and other infrastructure that were left behind and helped the community as well.

“It’s becoming a big industry here.”

Maniototo was popular because the landscape was very similar to Montana and California, he said.

“The natural scenery is a lot like Montana and it’s very easy to do business here with this community. And a lot of the land they are using is private land not DOC [Department of Conservation] land.”

Central Otago District Council head of destination Antz Longman confirmed there was a production coming to the district based in the Ranfurly/Naseby area.

As filming was a permitted activity resource consent was not required howeverCouncil's planning department had processed an application for temporary buildings to be constructed as part of the production in the rural area.

Have a story to share?

Contact [email protected]