2007–08 — The Year in Review

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July 07

Te Ara Wellington

Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, launched the Wellington entry. Other entries launched during the year were Wanganui (June), Volcanic Plateau (November), and Auckland (December). These 'Places' entries provide lively stories of New Zealand's diverse regions with text, film clips, interactives, maps and photos. Te Ara also launched 'Signposts', a blog for the Te Ara team to provide a personal voice to current events and to receive feedback.
More information

TVNZ Charter Review

The process for reviewing the TVNZ Charter began with the public being invited to make submissions on a suggested redraft. The Charter has seven themes – an informed society, national identity and citizenship, Maori, diversity, high standards, innovation and New Zealand talent. The Television New Zealand Act 2003 requires Parliament to review the Charter every five years.

August 07

Public Broadcasting Conference

On 28-29 August, we ran a national Public Broadcasting Conference, 'New Broadcasting Futures: Out of the Box' at Te Papa. The conference considered what impact the fast-changing digital landscape will have on audiences, content creators, broadcasters, platform providers and policy makers. It grappled with the big meaty question - How can New Zealand achieve diversity through digital broadcasting? The conference featured international keynote speakers, workshops, technology demonstrations and a multi-media design challenge for Victoria University design students.
New Future website

Broadcasting Research

The first ever survey of attitudes towards public broadcasting found the majority (89 per cent) of Kiwis agreed it contributes cultural and social value to New Zealand. 82 per cent agreed it promoted our culture and way of life, 84 per cent said it educates a range of people, and 85 per cent said it encourages informed discussion and debate.
More information.

September 07

Centenary of New Zealand's Dominion Status

26 September 2007 marked the centenary of New Zealand's proclamation of Dominion status. To mark the occasion, we organised a major symposium of some of New Zealand's leading historians, constitutional and legal experts to consider a century of changing ideas of nationhood. The range of speakers discussed concepts of nationhood, how New Zealanders have represented these ideas, how they have changed over time, different approaches to nationhood, and possible future developments.
More information

Freeview TV

The first of TVNZ's two new digital television services, TVNZ6, was launched on Freeview on 30 September. It shows family viewing for all ages and is New Zealand's first commercial-free television channel. The channel screens substantial New Zealand content – children's programming, family factual and entertainment programmes, local drama and comedy.

Te Ara 'The Bush'

Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand launched its third major theme The Bush. The Bush contains 104 entries covering New Zealand's indigenous plants and animals and tells the story of people's uses of the bush. A wealth of film footage records some of the unusual behaviour of New Zealand's birds and reptiles.
See The Bush

October 07

Passchendaele on NZHistory.net.nz

A major feature on New Zealand's role in the Battle of Passchendaele appeared on www.nzhistory.net.nz as part of the 90th anniversary activities of that epic event. The feature covered the impact on small New Zealand communities and on one family in particular. An interactive, multi-lingual touchscreen version was prepared for the Tyne Cot Visitor Centre in Belgium. The touchscreen and the website were part of New Zealand's contribution to the Shared Memories Arrangement, signed with the Flemish Regional government on 4 October 2007. More information

Pipe Organ installed at the National War Memorial

On 18 October, the Military and Hospitaller Order of St Lazarus of Jerusalem gifted a magnificent Erben-designed pipe organ to the National War Memorial. The Grand Duke of the Order, the Duke of Seville, attended the Dedication ceremony. The 1857 organ was originally from a church in Maine, Massachusetts

Book Launch, Trainland

Trainland: How Railways Made New Zealand hit the bookshops in October, and was reprinted by Christmas. This highly illustrated story not only looks at the spread of the rail network, but examines how railways have influenced our culture in art, literature and music.

November 07

New Zealand Paradise Week in Tokyo, Japan

The New Zealand Paradise Week festival was held in Tokyo, as part of our Cultural Diplomacy International Programme. The Festival included a gala dinner and the transformation of the centre of the Roppongi Hills complex into a New Zealand forest with a waterfall and suspension bridge. Nearly 17,000 visitors sampled New Zealand cuisine and were entertained by visiting New Zealand artists Hinewehi Mohi, Strike, Nesian Mystick, and Rhombus. The latest collections of designers Huffer, Sabatini White, Cybele and NomD featured in fashion parades.
More information.

Governance Support

Workshops for newly-appointed board members and a function for Auckland-based board members were held, and we launched a governance e-manual which is available online. Additional information was also provided for board members on annual reports, board fees and conflicts of interest.
More information

'Movember' on NZHistory.net.nz

We played our part in 'Movember', a lighthearted campaign to raise awareness about prostate cancer. Men are sponsored to go for a month without shaving their upper lip. Our special feature on www.nzhistory.net.nz charted the changing fashions of New Zealand men's facial hair and what it said about our society at the time.
See Movember on NZHistory.net.nz

December 07

Kiwi Christmas on NZHistory.net.nz

NZHistory.net.nz explored the Kiwi Christmas – from Abel Tasman's celebration in 1642 to the Queen's message in our living rooms. We provided 12 stories on past and present Christmases, including a recipe for 'goose pye', a dish James Cook's crew enjoyed in 1769 – except they substituted goose with gannet. The best of the Ministry's singers even helped out with a chirpy rendition of 'Sticky Beak the Kiwi'. The stories can be found at: www.nzhistory.net.nz/culture/kiwi-xmas. They include Maori legends, settlers' stories, odes to the Pohutukawa and quirky Christmas games.

Te Ara Auckland Launch

Te Ara – Encyclopedia of New Zealand launched its Auckland entry as part of the 'Places' theme. With over 200 resources – images, maps, videos and interactives, the Auckland entry has a 'big city' feel but also includes stories of a more relaxed lifestyle – the sailing, beach, outdoors and cultural events.
See the Auckland entry.

January 08

Broadcasting Regulatory Review

Regulatory review of digital broadcasting documents were released for public consultation in late January. The transition from analogue to digital broadcasting alters the media environment as we know it. It opens opportunities for convergence between broadcasting, telecommunications (fixed and mobile) and the internet. The government authorised a review of the way broadcasting is currently regulated to ensure it remains appropriate in this new environment. The first stage, led by our Broadcasting Unit, sought submissions from a wide range of industry groups and interested New Zealanders.
More information.

NZLive.com traffic peak

NZLive.com tops 110,000 visitors for the first time since its launch in September 2006. Visitors to NZLive.com reached 110,873 – an increase from 31,055 visitors to the site in January 2007. The website provides a nation-wide events guide and information about New Zealand's cultural activities. It is designed to help cultural organisations attract audiences to their events.

February 08

First World War Dog Tag found in France

A First World War identity (or 'dog') tag, buried in the battlefields of the Somme for over 90 years, was discovered by a French girl, Zoe Corselle. Our chief historian traced the owner, Richard Kemp, of Te Aupouri iwi, back to the small far north settlement of Te Kao. He had served at Gallipoli, then in Belgium before being invalided home near the end of the war. Zoe and her family returned the tag to New Zealand at a ceremony in France.
Read more

Taonga Tuturu

For the first time the Maori Land Court determined ownership of taonga tuturu under the Protected Objects Act 1975. Hui on the Act and the Historic Places Act were held with Ngai Tahu runanga. New procedures simplify the application for ownership of newly found taonga tuturu, allowing iwi to regain custody.
More information.

March 08

Regional Museums Policy

Our Policy and Agency teams administer the fund which assists museums holding collections of national significance. The fund applies to Capital Construction Projects. In March, grants went to the Auckland Art Gallery ($30m) and the Otago Settlers Museum ($6m) towards the costs of their re-development projects. Auckland War Memorial Museum's Grand Atrium project is a past recipient under this Policy, receiving $27.111 million over five years. Applications to the Policy are considered each year on a contestable basis against other applications received and within the funding available.
More information

Broadcasting Amendment Act

The Broadcasting Amendment Act took effect on 14 March. This enables NZ On Air and Te Mangai Paho to fund the production, transmission and archiving of new forms of digital content across a variety of media, including the internet and mobile phones.

History Publications

Two major history books, co-authored by our historians Jock Phillips and David Green, were published: Settlers: New Zealand immigrants from England, Ireland and Scotland 1840–1945, by Jock Phillips and Terry Hearn; and The Gunners: A History of New Zealand Artillery, by Alan Henderson, David Green and Peter Cooke.

April 08

Non-Commercial Radio

Our Broadcasting Unit called for expressions of interest from 15 regions for new non-commercial FM radio licences. These new radio frequencies aim to help local broadcasters fill the unmet need of producing content that reflects their communities. Non-commercial radio frequencies were made available throughout the country. The radio licences provide opportunities for a wider range of programming and for more people to get involved in radio – recognising that community radio has an important and distinctly different role from that of national broadcasters.
More information.

Wahine 40th Anniversary

The 40th anniversary of the sinking of the Wahine was commemorated on www.nzhistory.net.nz. The news media and schools were sent links to the site to encourage remembrance and learning from New Zealand’s worst maritime disaster. New Zealanders were invited to contribute their stories. One woman’s moving rescue made the Fiji Times.

May 08

Screen Production Incentive Fund

Our Broadcasting Unit called for expressions of interest from 15 regions for new non-commercial FM radio licences. These new radio frequencies aim to help local broadcasters fill the unmet need of producing content that reflects their communities. Non-commercial radio frequencies were made available throughout the country. The radio licences provide opportunities for a wider range of programming and for more people to get involved in radio – recognising that community radio has an important and distinctly different role from that of national broadcasters.
More information

Agency Support

Our Agency Group assisted agencies through workshops on Select Committee processes, understanding financial statements, and maximising Chair, Board and Chief Executive partnerships. Governance work supported Ministers in appointments to arts, heritage, sports, and broadcasting Crown entity boards and assistance with board self-evaluations. The team participated in the MAGnet cross-department group which shares good practice on performance monitoring, appointments, and governance.

June 08

VietnamWar.govt.nz launched

VietnamWar.govt.nz went live on Queen's Birthday weekend at Tribute '08, a national gathering in Wellington of Vietnam veterans and their families. The site is the digital history component of a government-funded four year project to record the stories of New Zealand's Vietnam War experience. The interactive site allows those associated with the war to directly contribute memories, stories and images. It showcases some of the oral interviews we are collecting as part of the Vietnam War Oral History Project and it links to some major NZHistory.net.nz NCEA resources for teachers. www.vietnamwar.govt.nz.

Kerikeri Heritage Bypass

On 23 June 2008, the Bypass opened and demolition of the road bridge in the Kerikeri Basin started. This was a result of work over many years to reroute traffic so the bridge could be removed. The bridge acted as a dam when the Kerikeri River flooded, threatening the Basin’s historic buildings.
More information.