The Diplomat actor Rufus Sewell. Photo / Getty Images
The quake struck 40km north of Te Anau at 9.14pm on Thursday at a depth of 53km. GeoNet received more than 20,000 reports of the quake, with many in Queenstown feeling the effects.
A tsunami warning was issued and evacuations ordered for coastal areas, before the National Emergency Management Agency cancelled the order, saying the tsunami threat had passed.
A Netflix description of Queenstown runs: “beneath the glamour of Queenstown’s luxury ski scene, a privileged family and the people who work for them collide over power, loyalty and desire”.
The eight-part series is being directed by noted Kiwi director Roseanne Liang (My Wedding and Other Secrets, Avatar: The Last Airbender). The Silent Firework Group and Runaway Unicorn are the local production companies in charge of the project.
Alycia Debnam-Carey as Commander Lexa. Photo / Liane Hentscher, CW
Amanda Duthie, Netflix ANZ content director, said the show has attracted “an exceptional team of talent and creatives, surrounded by this breathtaking environment”.
“Shooting our first locally commissioned series here in New Zealand is a huge moment for us. This is a bold, propulsive story of power, class and family set against the opulent world of a luxury ski town, and we can’t wait for our members to fall in love with this series the way we have.”
Around 120 local crew members are currently engaged across the production. Netflix said Queenstown was expected to generate $40 million in local economic impact and create 450 jobs for cast and crew over a five-month period.
Dunedin, Maniototo and Ōamaru locations will feature in Netflix’s East of Eden, due for release later this year.
Duthie said Netflix has had support from the New Zealand Film Commission and the Screen Production Rebate and is “delighted that this production is creating opportunities for local crew, businesses and emerging talent”.
Queenstown will be released globally on the streaming platform and follows in the footsteps of the likes of Sweet Tooth and the highly anticipated East of Eden, starring overseas actors Florence Pugh and Mike Faist, which was shot in Ōamaru.