Ōamaru takes centre stage at East of Eden community celebration
Published on 09 October 2026
Ōamaru rolled out the red carpet on Wednesday evening as around 200 guests gathered at the Ōamaru Opera House to celebrate the town's starring role in Netflix's East of Eden.
The special community screening of Episode 6 brought together local residents, businesses, community organisations, elected representatives and people involved in the production — including some who had the excitement of spotting themselves on the big screen.
The event, a partnership between Waitaki District Council, Ōamaru Whitestone Civic Trust and Tourism Waitaki, celebrated the extraordinary community effort behind bringing the international production to Ōamaru and the wider Otago region.
Waitaki Mayor Melanie Tavendale said the evening was a wonderful celebration of the district and its people.
"Seeing Ōamaru on the big screen was incredibly special, but what made the evening so memorable was celebrating the people and community spirit that helped make it all possible.
"This wasn't simply a production that arrived, filmed and left. Our community became part of the experience — from local businesses and property owners to residents, organisations and the many people who helped behind the scenes.
"I'm immensely proud of what we achieved together. It's a fantastic reminder of what makes Ōamaru special and the opportunities we can create when we work together."
Since premiering on 1 October, East of Eden has soared to number one on Netflix globally, attracting 6.5 million views in just its first four days. The series' international success is putting Ōamaru's distinctive Victorian heritage and Otago's spectacular landscapes in front of millions of viewers worldwide.
Tourism Waitaki Director Hamish Saxton said the exposure presented an exciting opportunity for the district.
"East of Eden is showcasing Ōamaru to a global audience on a scale we could only dream of. Our extraordinary heritage precinct has always been something special, and now millions of people around the world are discovering it.
"The opportunity is to turn that international attention into real interest in visiting Ōamaru and experiencing the places they've seen on screen."
The evening opened with a karakia from Te Rūnanga o Moeraki Upoko David Higgins, who had also welcomed the production to Ōamaru with a mihi whakatau when filming began in January 2025.
Guests enjoyed two special short films before the screening: an official Netflix feature featuring director Zoë Kazan, star Florence Pugh and production crew reflecting on filming in Otago, followed by a locally produced film celebrating the experiences of residents, extras and organisations involved in the production.
The evening also recognised the winners of the East of Eden: Through Our Eyes photography competition, which attracted around 70 entries capturing the transformation of Ōamaru's streets, behind-the-scenes moments and the excitement of filming.
Seven photographers featured in the Top 10, with five joining the celebrations to receive their prizes. The Top 50 photographs will feature in a public exhibition in Ōamaru's Historic Precinct in November.
Mayor Tavendale said the opportunity extended well beyond the series itself.
"This is a wonderful platform to showcase our district to the world, encourage visitors to experience Ōamaru for themselves and demonstrate what we can offer future screen productions."
The event welcomed Waitaki MP Miles Anderson, Central Otago Mayor Tamah Alley, former Waitaki Mayor Alex Familton, mana whenua representatives and other invited guests.
Council acknowledged the contribution of its event partners, the Ōamaru Opera House team, Film Otago Southland and the Dunedin City Council Screen team, alongside the Waitaki District Youth Council volunteers who helped make the evening a success.
The community films and Top 10 competition photographs can be viewed at https://www.eastofeden.co.nz/
ENDS
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