Creative Industries Including Games Add $3.848b to NZ Economy

A 2015 report commissioned by the industry alliance WeCreate and prepared by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) quantifies the economic impact of New Zealand’s creative industries. The analysis focuses on five specific sectors—games, music, books, and film and television—to establish their contribution to the national economy and employment landscape during the 2014 calendar year. The primary objective is to provide empirical data to support strategic advocacy for the growth and cultural prosperity of these sectors.

The findings reveal that these combined creative industries contributed $3.848 billion to New Zealand’s gross domestic product (GDP) in 2014. Employment figures are equally significant, with nearly 20,000 individuals directly employed across these fields. When accounting for wider industry impacts, the total employment footprint rises to approximately 42,000 full-time equivalent (FTE) jobs. The film and television sector serves as the largest contributor, accounting for 74% of the total GDP impact, followed by music at 12%, books at 8%, and the games industry at 6%.

Specific data for the games industry indicates a total GDP impact of $239 million, supported by 2,305 total FTE jobs. While the current scope is limited to these five sectors, the report acknowledges that other creative areas—such as architecture, design, and software—remain outside the current assessment, with plans to incorporate them into future valuations. By highlighting both domestic and international successes, the analysis underscores the potential for these industries to drive export earnings and enhance New Zealand’s reputation as a hub for innovation and creative output.