In a way, it can be said that New Zealand has really upped its game in the digital space over the past few years. From film and television productions to the growth of online streaming platforms, the country has become something of an international player, and this momentum doesn’t stop at entertainment alone.

On the contrary, the rise of locally made shows reaching global audiences has gone hand-in-hand with broader online innovation, whether that’s the growing popularity of Royal Panda NZ – the iGaming scene as a whole is projected to reach $3.34 billion by 2029 – or the rise of online tech startups like Sharesies – New Zealand’s fintech sector is now the highest-grossing tech subsector in the country.

The contrast between now and twenty-five years ago is plain to see, and, focusing on media specifically, it has been pivotal in the development of ‘streaming-ready’ local stars. One such example is Robyn Malcom, a household name in New Zealand television, whose growing international presence illustrates how Kiwi talent is increasingly helping to bridge local production with global platforms.

Robyn Malcom: World Hopper

Acclaimed New Zealand star, Robyn Malcom, has been spending the last few years travelling far and wide for work. Of course, there have been several roles in her native New Zealand – most notably, the recent Three drama Far North, and the award-winning seriesAfter the Party, which she co-created – but as well as this, she’s travelled to the US to shoot the Apple TV series Black Bird, and has had a number of guest roles, including parts in Heartbreak High and The Survivors in Australia.

Her latest job has brought her to Western Australia, to the town of Pemberton, where the second season of the Mystery Road prequel series Mystery Road: Origin is filming. This is significant, too, because Western Australia has been experiencing its own international streaming boom – a boom prefigured by shows like The Heights, which has found audiences far beyond Australian shores.

Western Australia Finding Its Place on the Map

Productions such as these have helped put Western Australia on the global map, attracting talent and investment from across the region, and creating fertile ground for actors like Robyn Malcom to bring their experience and star power to new international projects.

This, too, should be a positive milestone for Malcolm's career. Because Western Australia is growing a reputation as a hub for high-quality, internationally distributed productions – just as New Zealand is – actors working there are increasingly visible to a global audience.

It also helps that there’s excitement around each project. Just think, the region’s booming industry is attracting experienced crews, strong writing, and ambitious directors, giving her the opportunity to work on content that is not only excellent but widely marketed across streaming platforms.

The result is an even more polished professional profile. By participating in a project like this, Malcolm is not only demonstrating her versatility across different production environments but is also positioning herself within a network of emerging international collaborations, opening doors to future roles in other internationally recognised series and films.

Conclusion

It all comes back to New Zealand. If the country hadn’t steadily established itself as an international player in the digital and media space, stars like Robyn Malcom might never have had the platform to spread their wings beyond local productions.

But now they have, and there’s no telling how far they might go. Certainly, if her Western Australian role is a success, there’s no reason why Malcom can’t go even further in cementing her status as a globally recognised talent. We’re all just going to have to keep watching – or streaming, for that matter – to find out!

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