From GZ if you look across the valley slightly to the right you will see where some of the filming was done for the movie “The Last Samurai”. There are a few buildings over there now that have been rebuilt as a tourist venture. Before filming started a lot of track work had to be done including up the hill where the red sign still is. On the ridge above this was a complete village with gardens, corrals, a water supply and temple.
To your left and down in the bottom of the valley was the ruined village complete with train tracks and a real train.
A major proportion of filming was done over several months in Taranaki during 2003. The film injected around NZ$85 million into the national economy of which around NZ$50 million was captured by the Taranaki region. Around 615 jobs were created using locals, other people from around NZ and also overseas.
The Last Samurai premiered in Tokyo, Los Angeles and New York in November and December 2003 and in NZ in 2004.