Wētā Workshop has joined New Zealand Story’s FernMark Licence Programme, a government-backed accreditation designed to help New Zealand businesses stand out in global markets. The FernMark is an official stamp of quality that recognises Wētā Workshop as a trusted creative brand worldwide.

David Wilks, General Manager, says while we already have a great reputation for producing quality work across screen, design, game development, location-based experiences and collectibles, the FernMark give clients added assurance that we are a business that successfully delivers on the international stage.

Richard Taylor, Wētā Workshop Co-founder and Creative Director, says, “Having the status of the FernMark, which endorses and embellishes the relevance and commercial standing of what we make, is very important and is something we are incredibly proud to be a part of.”

David Downs, CEO of New Zealand Story, says he is thrilled to see Wētā Workshop join the FernMark Programme. “It is a business known for its creativity, its innovation and its challenging of the norms. That is why it is often heroed as one of the leaders in New Zealand’s creative-tech space, it is a sophisticated and complex business, but absolutely creative at its heart.

“The value of New Zealand’s arts and creative sector is not widely appreciated. It contributed $14.9 billion to New Zealand’s GDP in the year to March 2022, which is 4.2% of our total economy. Wētā Workshop is a great example of how to increase the value of New Zealand’s exports, not just volume."