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.