The very habitat that the Friends of Belmont are fighting to save has attracted a group of children trying to re-create their own society.

According to Cloud Nine Entertainment Chief Executive Raymond Thompson, the Belmont Regional Park provides a photogenic backdrop for the filming of the company’s newest show, ‘The New Tomorrow’.

Using local actors and support people – as well as the local backdrop – Cloud Nine says that everything is on track to film through to September, and Mr Thompson says the Korokoro Dam will be used as a regular location.

“The local children taking part in the film have something special about them,” Mr Thompson says. “Kiwi kids are nice, natural children who want to be themselves. They’re having a great time.”

Being filmed in and around the Wellington area – including Belmont Regional Park, Whitemans Valley and Cloud Nine’s Lower Hutt studios – ‘The New Tomorrow’ is a children’s sci-fi adventure series following the same premise as Cloud Nine's successful show ‘The Tribe’.

In ‘The Tribe’ children must re-create their own society in a world left without adults. ‘The New Tomorrow’ follows a similar premise, but is set against a rural backdrop, rather than ‘The Tribe’s’ dis-used shopping mall setting.

It is projects like these which the Friends of Belmont cite in their fight to save parts of Belmont Regional Park from private sale. They want to keep the park’s natural setting – which could be at risk if Landcorp privately sells its farm, which forms part of the park.

“The nature of the habitat in Belmont Regional Park means it can be used for filming like that being done by Cloud Nine for its new television series,” says Friends spokesman Richard Sadleir.

Mr Sadleir says the park’s wild areas make it suitable for that type of project, and referred to the ‘Lord of the Rings’ as another example of filming that could be done in areas like Belmont Regional Park because of the unspoilt backdrop.

Aimed at viewers aged eight-12 years old, ‘The New Tomorrow’ is currently scheduled to air later in the year on Channel FIVE in the UK and Network Seven in Australia.

Mr Thompson says that, while the company would have liked to have used more local children, actors had to be selected on size and looks. Many of those who missed out, however, will be used as extras.

By Vivienne Ball