Ōamaru and the wider Waitaki district have become one of New Zealand’s most distinctive and in-demand film locations, with the Heritage Precinct in particular providing a rare, intact historic streetscape that can convincingly represent both historic New Zealand and a wide range of international period settings.

Over the years, the Heritage Precinct and surrounding harbour and town areas have hosted a diverse range of feature films, television series, documentaries, and commercial productions. Production companies are consistently drawn to the limestone architecture, well-preserved historic streets, and the minimal modern visual intrusion, which together create a highly adaptable, cinematic environment. Major international productions, including Netflix alongside television projects, tourism campaigns, and national advertising shoots, have all utilised Ōamaru as a filming location.

The first feature film production recorded in the Heritage Precinct dates back to 1986, marking the beginning of its long association with the screen industry and establishing Ōamaru as a sought-after location for period and location-based filming ever since.