What minimum New Zealand production spend was required by the Avatar sequels agreement?

The Avatar sequels agreement required at least NZ$500 million in production spending in New Zealand.

The commitment formed part of an agreement between the filmmakers and the New Zealand government. It covered production activity in the country, including live-action filming and visual-effects work. The arrangement also required at least one world premiere to be held in Wellington, reinforcing New Zealand’s role in the franchise’s production and promotion.

The agreement helped secure the sequels’ long-term presence in New Zealand. Weta Digital in Wellington handled major visual-effects work, while the country’s film incentives were adjusted to support large international productions. The government announced an increase in its baseline rebate for filmmaking from 15% to 20%, with a possible 25% rate for some international productions.

The figure is a minimum commitment, not the total cost of making the films. The Avatar sequels were reported as enormously expensive global productions, but this question asks specifically about qualifying production expenditure in New Zealand. That is why NZ$500 million—not NZ$750 million, NZ$250 million, or NZ$100 million—is the canonical answer.