New Zealand offers a world of location looks within close proximity to each other. The country is best known for its otherworldly looks of deep forests, glacial lakes, peaceful streams, white-water rapids, snow-covered mountains, magnificent fjords, and volcanos. The permitting process is generally quick, easy and streamlined. For a high quality production service centre, New Zealand is one of the most cost competitive filming centres in the Western world. New Zealand is generally less expensive than Australia due to the difference in exchange rate, less distance to locations, and more flexible crew and talent rules. New Zealand has a good pool of local directors, directors of photography, production designers and stills photographers with extensive international experience.