Dunedin: absolutely positively (almost) the gaming capital of New Zealand
From reporter Hamish McNeilly:
Dunedin has leapfrogged Christchurch and Wellington to move to second place in New Zealand for gaming studios.
The southern city now had 19 gaming studios, behind Auckland (27), but well ahead of Wellington (13) and Christchurch (5), according to a 2022 New Zealand Game Developers Association survey.
The secret to Dunedin’s success was the establishment of the government-backed New Zealand Centre of Digital Excellence (Code).
When Code was set-up in 2019, Dunedin only had four gaming studios in the city: Runaway, Rocketwerkz (which has since relocated), Spotted Kiwi Interactive and Balancing Monkey Games, a report presented to the economic development committee of the Dunedin City Council on Monday morning.
As a result of Code funding, 25 studios had been set up – of which some had been disbanded and staff absorbed into other studios.
The committee heard that Code funding, which included grants for studios and support to attend gaming conferences, had contributed to 90 jobs.
‘’Dunedin has become a destination for game development studios,’’ the report said.
That included an Auckland-based company choosing the city for its satellite base, while other larger studios visiting the city for ‘’scouting purposes’’.
Another example was Deep Field Games established by successful United States’ indie developer, Geoff Keene, who ‘’chose Dunedin over any other city in New Zealand, and New Zealand over any other city in the world to set up his new studio’’, the report noted.
The studio’s nine staff members, which included some laid-off from Rocketwerkz, had secured oversea’s investment and a publishing commitment, with the first game expected to be launched in September.
The report also noted that Māori representation, 8%, was almost three times higher than the national average, 3%.
Code chief executive Tim Ponting told the committee that the studios and their staff enjoyed being based in Dunedin, and there was loyalty between them and Code.
‘’We are building an ecosystem here.’’
The Government announced it was increasing its support to $2.25million a year, until 2027 to expand Code, which wil remain headquartered in Dunedin but have an expanded national focus.
‘’New Zealand’s game development sector has been rapidly growing,’’ Minister for the Digital Economy and Communications, David Clark said of the November announcement.
The latest data from the New Zealand Game Developers Association shows the total revenue for the industry was $407m, compared to $276m a year ago.
Code’s new focus would see the team expand from four roles to seven, with representatives to be added for Auckland and Wellington.
Poll: Should we be giving the green light to new mining projects? 💰🌲
The Environmental Protection Authority announced this week that a proposed mine in Central Otago (near Cromwell) is about to enter its fast-track assessment process. A final decision could come within six months, and if it’s approved, construction might start as early as mid-2026.
We want to know: Should mining projects like this move ahead?
Keen to dig deeper? Mike White has the scoop.
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53.1% Yes
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46.9% No
‘Tis the season to not get scammed ...
As Christmas gift shopping moves increasingly online, scammers are ramping up their activity across the country.
Dunedin’s Investigation Support Unit is seeing more and more people fall victim to scams and other fraudulent activity, particularly on Facebook Marketplace.
There are a few ways to avoid the scams and keep yourself safe doing online trades this holiday season, says Southern District Service Delivery Manager Senior Sergeant Dalton.
🔒 “A good first step when looking to purchase something on Marketplace is to check when the seller’s Facebook profile was created. If it’s very recent, there is a higher risk that they have just created this account for a one-off fake item.”
🔒 Another important step is to make sure the seller’s profile name and bank account name match up. “We’re seeing a lot of scammers claiming their bank account name is different because it belongs to their partner or family member - that’s a huge red flag."
🔒 “When you’re selling, never trust a screenshot anyone sends you showing that payment has been made. Check your own bank account to make sure a payment has gone through."
🔒 “Quite frankly, it’s best for all parties to agree to pay, or be paid, for items in cash and in-person. Ideally in a public place with CCTV coverage."
🔒 "If you’re buying a car, check Carjam.co.nz to see if it’s stolen or if there’s money owed on it.”
A reminder: Suspicious activity can be reported on 105
🚒 Our Fire and Emergency crews have been kept busy lately
And they’re once again reminding everyone: please don’t light fires when it’s windy.
Central Otago will move into a restricted fire season from 1 December 2025, which means anyone planning an outdoor fire will need to apply for a permit and plan ahead.
So we’d love to ask you — how do you make sure you’re being fire-safe at this time of year?
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