The film crew of the American singer-songwriter and actress Taylor Swift, has responded to claims that they physically injured and unsettled rare birds during a video shoot on Monday, November 23, as the video shoot was located at Bethells Beach in New Zealand.
Campaigners have accused the video production service - Cherokee Films of paying no attention to council permits and taking too many vehicles onto the beach, where many rare Dotterel birds (a familiar bird of sandy east coast beaches in the northern North Island) have their nests.
Cherokee Films, a high quality production service company, has issued a full and definite expression in writing in response to the claims and explained that the 'Shake it Off' hitmaker was not linked to the planning of the film shoot.
Cherokee Films stated, "Taylor Swift and her management team were in no way at fault and did not do anything that violated permits or ordinances." "Cherokee Films were filming at Bethells Beach on Monday 23rd November where a base camp was set up on private land which allowed for access to the beach. Cherokee Films had permission from the landowners and paid a fee for use of the land."
"At no time were the film crew close to that habitat," "No Dotterel was harmed."
Cherokee Films claimed that they had a long history of responsible film shoots across Auckland, and that includes Bethells Beach - where Cherokee Films has filmed a couple of times. Cherokee Films stated that their shoots have always been with the guidance and support which is closely connected with local authority - at a recent time in Screen Auckland and Parks - and landowners.
However, it has been reported that the chairperson of the Waitakere Ranges Local Board - Sandra Coney, condemn the crew of Taylor Swift, "Taylor Swift filming at Bethells this week. Permission was given for I think 2 vehicles, instead there were about a dozen. Parks not happy at all."
