Jason Momoa has given New Zealand another public vote of confidence, describing the country as a place that feels like home after filming much of his new action comedy The Wrecking Crew in Auckland.

The film, which stars Momoa alongside Dave Bautista, is set in Hawaii but used Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland as a stand-in for Honolulu across action scenes, car chases and city sequences. The decision turned parts of Auckland into an international film set and brought significant work to local crews, performers and suppliers.

In the film, Momoa and Bautista play estranged half-brothers forced back together after their father's mysterious death. Off screen, the pair have spoken warmly about their time in New Zealand, with Momoa saying he wants to keep bringing movies here and Bautista praising the calmer rhythm of the country during a demanding shoot.

The production employed more than 1400 local cast and crew, creating flow-on benefits for hospitality, accommodation, retail, construction and technical services. For Auckland, that kind of production does more than create a few weeks of excitement. It brings money into local businesses and gives New Zealand screen workers experience on large international projects.

The film also placed Kiwi talent in front of global audiences. Temuera Morrison, Frankie Adams and Roimata Fox were among the New Zealand performers involved. Momoa praised the local actors, while Bautista spoke highly of Morrison's influence on him earlier in his career.

For New Zealand's screen sector, stories like this matter because the industry is not only competing on scenery. The country has long been known for dramatic landscapes, but international productions also look for skilled crews, reliable infrastructure, experienced performers and places that can transform convincingly into other parts of the world.

There is also a soft-power benefit. When international actors speak warmly about New Zealand, it supports the country's image as a creative, capable and welcoming place to make films. That can influence future production decisions, tourism interest and how local talent is perceived overseas.

The Wrecking Crew was released globally on Prime Video in late January, meaning audiences overseas will see New Zealand locations transformed into the world of the film, even if they do not immediately recognise them. For the more than 1400 New Zealanders who worked on the production, the result is another sign that Auckland has become part of the global film conversation in a very practical way.