Oamaru Whitestone Civic Trust

09/10/2026

🎞️: "I just feel very lucky that we got to film here"

While those who live in Waitaki know what a great place it is, its reputation as a uniquely beautiful part of New Zealand is being spread worldwide by the cast and crew of Netflix’s smash hit East of Eden series.

In a video released by the NZ Film Commission and Netflix this week the region, and Oamaru’s Heritage Precinct came in for special praise from the show’s stars and production team.

Media Release: https://www.waitaki.govt.nz/News/cast-and-crew-praise-Oamaru-and-Otago

07/10/2026

Tonight we had the pleasure of co-hosting a special community screening of East of Eden at Ōamaru’s beautiful historic Opera House.

With 200 guests dressed to impress, the Opera House was buzzing. It was fantastic to see so many people come together for a night celebrating something pretty special for Ōamaru.

And the excitement doesn’t stop there — East of Eden is currently number one on Netflix, with more than 6.5 million views in its first four days!

We’ve also been busy behind the scenes working on something special for the premiere — a new trailer showcasing the area and our community’s involvement in the filming. The trailer will become part of a larger national video, and we can’t wait to share it!

A wonderful night, a proud moment for our community, and there is still plenty more to come.

Waitaki District Council Waitaki NZ Waitaki Whitestone Unesco Global Geopark Film Otago Southland Netflix NZ Film Commission Oamaru Opera House Ministry for Culture and Heritage Miles Anderson MP for Waitaki

05/10/2026

It’s amazing to see our wee town making national and international media! Wednesday night is our community premiere of East of Eden, and it’s something we should all be incredibly proud of, it was a huge team effort!

There are lots of projects quietly rolling in the background to make sure we’re in the running for more productions — but just as importantly, to make sure we capitalise on the opportunity for film tourism and don’t let this moment pass us by.

This is about much more than one production. It’s about showcasing our town, bringing visitors through our doors, supporting local businesses and building a reputation as a place where filmmakers and tourists want to come.

Waitaki District Council Waitaki NZ Waitaki Whitestone Unesco Global Geopark
Film Otago Southland
Netflix

High hopes the series will put this heritage-rich region firmly on the international screen production map.

01/10/2026

Tonight’s the night! 🎬 After the long wait, East of Eden premieres tonight — and Oamaru transforms into a little slice of small-town America. 🇺🇸


Netflix

30/09/2026

The judging is done! East of Eden Through Your Eyes

What a response to our East of Eden: Through your Eyes Community Photo Competition.
Our judging panel had the very tough job of working through some amazing photographs and stories capturing East of Eden filming in Ōamaru – from transformed streets and behind-the-scenes action to cast, crew and those unexpected moments that made it such a memorable time for our town.

And we have our winners! 🏆

Our Top 10 photographs came from seven photographers, and the judges agreed all seven deserved to celebrate – so each will receive an East of Eden prize pack AND a double pass to next week’s special Community Screening at the Ōamaru Opera House.
Our Top 10 photographers and everyone whose images have been selected for the Top 50 exhibition collection have now been notified – so check your inboxes!
A huge thank you and well done to everyone who entered. There were so many wonderful moments captured, and we loved seeing East of Eden through your eyes.

A special thank you to our judges, Martin Robot-Man Horspool Shelley Winsor, Dan Lewis and Hamish Saxton.

The final collection is going to make a pretty special exhibition in Ōamaru’s Heritage Precinct later in November.

Stay tuned – exhibition details and more of our winning photographs coming soon!

East of Eden: Through Our Eyes is a partnership between Ōamaru Whitestone Civic Trust Waitaki District Council Waitaki NZ

Waitaki Whitestone Unesco Global GeoparkWaitaki Museum & Archive See less

Netflix

28/09/2026

The University of Canterbury’s Sustainable Tourism programme includes a visit to Waitaki as part of their studies, giving students the opportunity to explore the Waitaki Whitestone Unesco Global Geopark and the Ōamaru Heritage Precinct, and to gain a better understanding of regional tourism.

Waitaki has a lot to offer, not only as a visitor destination but also as a place to learn about heritage, geology, tourism and how these all work together.

There is always plenty of work happening in the background with our partners to make sure we do our best to support education and share the knowledge, stories and experiences that make our district unique.

23/09/2026

Hurry – entries close Friday!

We’ve received some amazing photos for East of Eden: Through Our Eyes - photo competition.
Behind-the-scenes moments, transformed locations, cast and crew, and some fantastic glimpses of what it was like when East of Eden came to Ōamaru.
But there’s still time to get yours in!

📸 Entries close 5pm Friday 25 September.

Up to 50 photos will be selected for our East of Eden: Through Our Eyes exhibition, with prize packs for the Top 10 and tickets to our special community screening for the Top 5.

So dig through that camera roll and show us East of Eden through your eyes!

Link in the comments

Waitaki District Council Waitaki NZ Waitaki Whitestone Unesco Global Geopark

Netflix

22/09/2026

Sometimes the smallest objects can tell a much bigger story.

This small hand cart, once used by the Ōamaru Borough Council’s street cleaning department, is now a treasured part of the Civic Trust’s collection. It is a simple piece of Ōamaru’s everyday history.

The cart features in a painting by renowned Ōamaru artist Colin Wheeler, captured on Harbour Street as part of the everyday life of the area.

The Civic Trust, working alongside the Forrester Art Gallery, is now installing a number of artworks throughout the Heritage Precinct as permanent displays. The Colin Wheeler painting will be one of these works, adding another story to the layered history of the street.

This is the beginning of a new art trail through the town and Heritage Precinct — bringing art out of the gallery and into the streets and people’s everyday lives,

The art installations have been kindly donated to the Gallery and the Trust.

Waitaki District Council Forrester Gallery

18/09/2026

Dust off the black tie and the evening gown and practice your red carpet strut.

🎬 ŌAMARU, IT'S TIME FOR OUR MOMENT ON THE BIG SCREEN!

When Netflix’s East of Eden came to Ōamaru, our streets, buildings and landscapes became part of a major international production — and our community became part of the story too.

Now, as the series prepares to launch around the world, we’re inviting the Waitaki community to come together and celebrate with a special community screening at the Ōamaru Opera House.

🎟️ We have 50 double passes up for grabs through a public ballot!

📅 Wednesday 7 October
📍 Ōamaru Opera House
✨ Arrival from 5.30pm | Screening at 6.30pm
🎬 A selected episode showcasing Ōamaru and its locations
🥂 Nibbles and refreshments, with a cash bar available for drinks purchases
👗 Dress code: Red Carpet Ready — dress it up, keep it casual, add a little Hollywood glamour or a touch of Ōamaru heritage.

Enter the ballot now for your chance to join us. Entries close 5pm Friday 25 September, with successful entrants contacted by 5pm Wednesday 30 September.

👉 Enter the Community Screening ballot at https://www.eastofeden.co.nz

Come and celebrate our people, our place and Ōamaru’s moment on the international screen. ❤️🎬

In part Oamaru Whitestone Civic Trust and Waitaki NZ (Tourism Waitaki).

16/09/2026

Perfect Creature – Vampire Horror Movie

As we get closer to the release of East of Eden, we’re continuing our look through the huge back catalogue of films that have put Ōamaru on the map.

The 2004 film Perfect Creature is a vampire horror movie set in the fictional city of Jamestown. For filming, Harbour Street was transformed into the slums of Jamestown, providing the backdrop for a series of mysterious murders.

One of those murders takes place in the fictional looking but real alleyway beside 2 Harbour Street - another familiar corner of the Heritage Precinct given a very different life on screen.

Harbour Street has certainly seen its share of dark history over the past 150 years, and thanks to Perfect Creature, we can now add a few fictional vampire murders to the list!
Film Otago SouthlandWaitaki Whitestone Unesco Global GeoparkWaitaki District Council