I REFER to the letter from H. Wailes, of Waverley, Australia, headlined, ''BBC right'' (South China Morning Post, May 29). Might I suggest that if the Aussies are going to claim that films are theirs, they should get their facts straight. The facts regarding Jane Campion's The Piano are as follows: The film was wholly funded by CIBY2000, a French company. The New Zealand Film Commission was never approached for funding, otherwise there is a good possibility it may have received funding from New Zealand. Although the production company was Australian, the director was a New Zealander, the story was set in New Zealand, the film was shot in New Zealand, the cast and crew were from New Zealand, and Maori, a New Zealand language, was used in the film. Contrary to your assertion, New Zealand was very much involved in the film. To the audiences, this film will be as a New Zealand film. It is no surprise that the Australians are claiming The Piano as their film. They did that with Footrot Flats (NZ) and Green Card (US), as well, although the international audiences weren't so easily fooled. DAVID NEWMAN Discovery Bay
