Our work units

Manatū Taonga staff in front of Takapūwāhia Marae in June 2019. Image by Mark Tantrum Photography.

Manatū Taonga has a broad mandate and wide reach across a complex system. We embrace diversity and inclusiveness, are passionate about our mahi, and welcome experiences from different sectors to strengthen and support the pou of our whare.

Te Toi - the Office of the Chief Executive

Te Toi - the Office of the Chief Executive supports the work of our Chief Executive Leauanae Laulu Mac Leauanae. It includes Te Pae Huarewa which delivers strategic advice, influencing iwi Māori, treaty, arts, culture and heritage policy and operational outcomes.

Te Aka Tūhono - Investment & Outcomes Group

Te Aka Tūhono - the Investment & Outcomes Group manages Te Tahua Whakamarohi i te Rāngai Cultural Sector Regeneration Fund, which supports the arts and culture sector.  These include:

• Te Tahua Whakakaha Cultural Sector Capability Fund: 
• Te Tahua Whakahaumaru Creative Arts Recovery and Employment (CARE) Fund:
• Te Tahua Āki Auahatanga Cultural Sector Innovation Fund: 

The group is led by by Joe Fowler, Deputy Chief Executive, Te Aka Tūhono - Investment and Outcomes.

Te Aka - Policy and Sector Performance Group

Te Aka provides policy advice to the government on arts, culture, heritage, broadcasting, and sports and recreation. We do this by working on policy proposals, legislation and reviews that are significant to the cultural sector. Te Aka, as part of its role as stewards of the cultural sector, also monitors the government's interests in the cultural sector agencies which receive crown funding, including supporting Ministers with Board appointments and governance advice. Te Aka comprises four teams: Arts Policy, Heritage Policy, Media Policy and Sector Performance.  The group is led by Emily Fabling, Deputy Chief Executive, Te Aka - Policy and Sector Performance.

Te Hua - Delivery Group

Te Hua comprises of three teams: Te Pae Wānanga, Te Pae Māpuna and Te Pae Mahara. Within Te Pae Wānanga, our historians, designers and developers tell stories about Aotearoa New Zealand history and who New Zealanders are today. This is done through a series publications, including our websites NZHistory and Te Ara as well as Te Tai. Within Te Pae Mahara we look after national monuments, including the National War Memorial, and war graves throughout New Zealand. We support commemorations and anniversaries as recognised by the Government. Within Te Pae Māpuna we administer the Flags, Emblems and Names Protection Act, which looks after national symbols like the flag, the Coat of Arms, and uses of the words Royal and Anzac. We also administer the Protected Objects Act, which protects NZ’s most precious taonga from unauthorised export, and sets out the framework for the return of newly found taonga tūturu to iwi and hapū. Across Te Hua we allocate funding for commemorating Waitangi Day events, historical research and the Regional Culture and Heritage Fund. The group is led by Glenis Philip-Barbara, Deputy Chief Executive, Te Hua - Delivery Group.

Te Iho - Organisational Performance Group

Te Iho undertakes a range of activities that support our Ministry. These include communications, facilities, finance, human resources, information management and technology, legal, Ministerial services and portfolio reporting. We also support our Ministers covering the Arts, Culture and Heritage, Broadcasting and Media, and Sports and Recreation portfolios. Details about our work can be found in the Ministry’s accountability reports produced by Te Iho. The group is led by Sarah Hardy, Deputy Chief Executive, Te Iho - Organisational Performance.