Avatar director James Cameron's revealed his first sequel to the blockbuster film is a year behind schedule.

The Canadian was one of several Hollywood heavyweights who met at Sir Peter Jackson's post-production studio yesterday, to discuss the future of New Zealand's film industry.

James Cameron was asked how his own films are coming along - and revealed Avatar 2 won't now be finished until late 2017.

"We're writing three simultaneously. We've done that so that everything tracks throughout the three films. In parallel with that we're doing all the designs. So we've designed all the creatures and the environments and all that sort of thing."