Business Showcase brought to you by Screen NZ International l 2026
Central Group:
The Quiet Force Behind New Zealand's Screen Industry
Big productions are built on precision. Long before cameras roll, specialist equipment must be delivered, operators coordinated and machinery positioned exactly where it's needed. Whether it's preparing a remote filming location, moving heavy set pieces or supporting large-scale construction, reliable equipment and responsive service help keep complex productions on schedule.
For nearly three decades, Central Group has been one of those trusted partners.
Celebrating 30 years in business this August, Central Group has built a nationwide reputation as a leading supplier of materials handling equipment, construction machinery, transport solutions and specialist support services. Today the privately owned company employs around 130 people across New Zealand, delivering everything from forklifts and telehandlers to excavators, compactors and trucks.
The service that Central Group supplies doesn’t end with the equipment itself. The company also provides maintenance, operator training and certification. Its comprehensive hire fleet of more than 2,500 machines is backed by experienced technicians and nationwide service support, allowing customers to keep projects moving with minimal downtime.
While the screen sector represents a relatively small part of the company's overall business, its contribution has been remarkably consistent.
For more than two decades, Central Group has worked closely with Pro Services and industry specialist Neil Radley, supplying machinery and equipment to major productions since the early days of The Lord of the Rings trilogy. The relationship, which began around 2000, continues today, providing productions with reliable access to the equipment and support services required behind the camera.
It's a role that reflects the nature of New Zealand's screen industry itself. Large-scale productions depend not only on creative talent, but on an extensive supply chain capable of responding quickly to changing schedules, complex locations and demanding production timelines. Materials handling equipment, telehandlers, forklifts, excavators and transport services are rarely seen on screen, yet they are fundamental to constructing sets, moving infrastructure and supporting the logistics of modern film and television production.
It's a role that reflects the nature of New Zealand's screen industry itself. Large-scale productions depend not only on creative talent, but on an extensive supply chain capable of responding quickly to changing schedules, complex locations and demanding production timelines. Materials handling equipment, telehandlers, forklifts, excavators and transport services are rarely seen on screen, yet they are fundamental to constructing sets, moving infrastructure and supporting the logistics of modern film and television production.
Central Group's strength lies in being ready when productions need them.
Remaining proudly privately owned has enabled Central Group to develop a culture focused on quick decision-making, practical problem-solving and long-term relationships with customers.
That philosophy has also helped the company grow nationally. In 2023, Central Group consolidated its nationwide footprint through the successful integration of multiple businesses, further strengthening its ability to provide consistent service across New Zealand. Today, with branches, technicians and support teams operating nationwide, productions can rely on the same level of service whether filming in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch or regional locations. The company's nationwide network allows it to provide equipment sales, rentals, servicing, transport and fleet support wherever customers operate.
Longevity is another defining feature.
Many members of the Central Group team have been with the company for years, and customer relationships are equally enduring. That continuity translates into practical knowledge, dependable service and a deep understanding of the industries they support. It's an approach that aligns naturally with the screen sector, where trusted suppliers become valued production partners over multiple projects.
Although audiences will never see the forklifts positioning scenery, the telehandlers lifting lighting rigs or the service technicians keeping equipment operating through demanding production schedules, these behind-the-scenes contributions are essential to bringing stories to life.
As New Zealand continues to strengthen its reputation as a world-class production destination, businesses like Central Group remain an important part of the ecosystem that supports international blockbusters, television series and local productions alike. Their role may sit outside the spotlight, but without reliable equipment, responsive service and nationwide capability, the industry's biggest productions simply couldn't operate as efficiently.
Thirty years after its founding, Central Group continues to demonstrate that supporting the screen industry isn't always about being centre stage. Sometimes it's about providing the machinery, expertise and people that help everyone else create the magic.
For more information visit www.centralgroup.co.nz
All imaged are owned by and used with permission of Central Group
CONTACT CENTRAL GROUP
