The Chinese television production company that filmed in Tauranga earlier this month were so pleased with the footage they shot here, that they plan to use the Tauranga locations for much of the 30 minute episode.

They also plan to send a second film production crew and cast to Tauranga in August.

Other locations they visited during their New Zealand stay were Hamilton, Auckland and Rotorua.

The popular Chinese TV show (known as Nine Buddies 九个小伙伴) is a reality series showing 10 kids aged 9 to 12 experiencing new places.

Twenty destinations in China have been aired on TV, and this year the show has gone international with Los Angeles and New Zealand as the first two locations.

Anne Young, regional manager for Education Tauranga, the organisation that supports international education in the Western BOP, was approached to oversee the Tauranga filming.

She was contacted by Education New Zealand in Shanghai who had been approached by the Hubei Provincial Administration of Radio, Film and Television. Anne works alongside Priority One to recognise the full potential of having international students in the region.

'They had a great time in Tauranga,” says Anne.

'They've confirmed that the footage they collected will be used to make up the majority of the 30 minute episode that they're hoping to produce for New Zealand.

'Tauranga was chosen as the primary destination for filming the NZ episode,” says Priority One's strategic projects manager Greg Simmonds.

'This recognises our strategy for establishing an international reputation and the huge growth potential here with the growth of our schooling and tertiary sector. '

Greg's role at Priority One oversees the broader city, regional and international strategy and activity from an economic development perspective. Education is a component of that.

'Additionally,” says Anne, 'the production company is looking at coming back here in August and filming one of their dramas. Quite a different thing from a reality TV show, it will be a drama with a Chinese cast.”

Anne Young checks film locations before the Chinese film crew arrive in NZ.

Anne tapped into BOP Film for help with managing the locations and supporting the film crew. Additional students from Tauranga were added to the cast for the segments that show the visiting students interacting with kiwi students.

During the day of film a great rapport was established between the NZ and Chinese cast and crew.

Deputy Mayor Kelvin Clout welcomed the production crew to the city.

'That's fantastic,” says Kelvin, on hearing about the plans for a second TV crew to film here. 'It's going to give us really good exposure in the Chinese market. There are many millions of people who watch that programme.

'It shows that these sort of visits from these overseas entities often have a long-term flow-on effect. It's not just a one-off benefit that we receive, it's something that is good for the long-term development of our economy. It's given us good exposure.”

Anne is very pleased with the positive feedback from the Chinese production crew.

'I think it's awesome that they've made the connections now.

'This media company is such a big one and they've seen Tauranga as a destination to film their TV shows and episodes. Any opportunity that we get to showcase our environment is a positive thing for us on the world stage.”

The crew were presented with a number of different locations including cityscape, beach, park and school classroom settings.

Hayden Wright from Sport BOP set up a volleyball net on the Mount Main beach for the beach games section, and Mount Maunganui Primary School made a classroom available.

'Most of them have never stepped on a beach before,” says Anne.

'So it's good giving them time to take in that ocean environment and experience it. On a whole I think everything went very well.”

'Obviously the group of children who came through were very impressed with our city,” says Kelvin. 'They also enjoyed the amazing outdoor recreational opportunities here.”

BOP Film are developing a show reel of locations across the Bay of Plenty to help attract further international film productions to this region.