Skip to main content
New Zealand women won the right to vote on 19 September 1893. Visit the Ministry's NZHistory website to learn about more about the early suffragists and what they fought for and reflect on women’s rights today.
Suffrage Day
Manatū Taonga Ministry for Culture and Heritage is calling for applications from historians, researchers and non-fiction writers to produce stories about their communities. The Whiria Te Mahara New Zealand History Grant offers successful applicants up to $12,000 to to support history research and writing. Applications close on 15 October.
One month remaining to apply for the Whiria Te Mahara New Zealand History Grants
A government culture and heritage fund has provided a $16.5 million dollar boost to two cultural institutions in Te Waipounamu, the South Island: the Canterbury Museum in Christchurch and the Forrester Art Gallery in Oamaru. Image shows the foyer of the new Canterbury Museum with the blue whale skeleton suspended from the ceiling.
Regional culture and heritage fund provides $16.5m for South Island cultural institutions
Kismet, in association with Te Tumu Whakaata Taonga the New Zealand Film Commission (NZFC), Firefly Films, Caravan Carpark Films and Kingston Productions are proud to release the trailer for the highly anticipated local feature film Uproar - which will have its nationwide cinema release on October 5, hot on the heels of its selection and screening at the revered Toronto International Film Festival this September.
Trailer Unveiled For Aotearoa Feature Film Uproar
Join us at the National Library of NZ in person or online to hear archivist and author Jared Davidson discuss his latest book, 'Blood and Dirt: Prison Labour and the Making of New Zealand' and the role prisoners have played in the development of modern New Zealand. Takes place on Wednesday 4 October at 12.10pm.
Public History talk - Prison labour and the making of New Zealand
Read a new Ministry report assessing the impact of the cultural recovery funding which supported 54 creative spaces. Cover image is of Jokani Coe performing in 'There is a Mountain inside my head' with Jolt. Photo taken by Charlie Rose, image courtesy of The Arts Centre.
Creative Spaces – impact of cultural recovery funding
NZ On Air’s Where Are The Audiences? research for 2023 shows audiences want their content when they want it – and that means on demand. The latest results from the series survey Where Are The Audiences? reveal audience behaviour in 2023, and how this compares to the 2021 survey, as well as the ongoing trend since the research began in 2014.
Strong growth in on demand viewing – latest audience trends from NZ On Air research
Following its triumphant premiere in 2019, the Royal New Zealand Ballet’s acclaimed Hansel & Gretel returns for Christmas 2023. Loughlan Prior, with Claire Cowan and Kate Hawley, has created a magical world of memorable characters. Touring nationwide from 26 October to 09 December, learn more on the Royal New Zealand Ballet's website.
Book now for the RNZB's Hansel & Gretel production
Following significant fono, talanoa, and engagement with the Pacific Arts community, Creative NZ are proud to share their Pacific Arts Strategy 2023-2028. This new strategy lays out their support for Pacific Arts over the next five years and is inspired by navigational stars across the skies of Aotearoa and Oceania. It is a vital, vibrant part of their wider strategic direction. Key features include an overarching vision, three key outcomes, and six priority areas for action – all of which are based on Kaupapa Pasifika values and principles. Read more on Creative NZ's website.
Creative New Zealand's Pacific Arts Strategy 2023-2028

Get the full story

Home Publications Our accountability reports Annual Report 2017

Annual Report 2017

Read the full annual report as a pdf copy.

Taken from the Chief Executive's report for 2016/17

Arts, culture, heritage, media and sports are part of our everyday lives, yet they lift us out of the everyday. They express who we are individually and collectively. Engagement with our heritage tells us where we’ve come from and informs where we are going. Cultural expression is central to a vibrant, healthy society. Cultural expression also reflects and reinforces what it means to be a New Zealander, helping to build connection and cohesion. This is incredibly important.

We connect people from all walks of life to our culture and heritage and bring our past to life in many ways. The Ministry’s websites had more than 10 million hits, with our comprehensive encyclopedia Te Ara recording 5,971,813 and NZHistory recording 3,659,220 for the 2016/17 year. The Walking with an Anzac schools resource, through the WW100 programme, has seen 800 school visits and 5,900 factsheets downloaded by teachers. Grants of $10.827 million from the Regional Culture and Heritage  Fund  have  gone  to  support  cultural  institutions  throughout  the  country  and  the  newly established Heritage EQUIP fund, $12 million over four years, is supporting heritage building owners to  earthquake  strengthen  them.  Further  afield  the  Cultural  Diplomacy  International  Programme, backing New Zealand’s reputation and identity internationally, saw support for the Venice Biennale and the Indian Ink theatre company’s tour of India. These achievements show we have a great deal to be proud of.

The  creative  sector  also  makes  a  major  contribution  to  New  Zealand’s  economic  growth  and sustainable  prosperity.  Every  year  the  sector  contributes  billions  of  dollars  to  the  economy  and supports thousands of jobs across the country. Our creative industries build talent and skills and produce high value and weightless products for export.

Figures from NZ On Air show the steady increase in New Zealand screen content continues with 13,126  hours  broadcast.  And  the  majority  of  New  Zealanders  who  believe  NZ  On  Air  supports television content important to New Zealanders has risen from 75 per cent to 78 per cent. More people went to our New Zealand movies with attendance up from 4 million in 2015/16 to 4.7 million.

Creative  New  Zealand  has  increased  the  number  of  community  arts  grants  made  through  the Creative  Communities  Scheme  from  1,725  to  1,806  and  attendance  at  events  it  supports  has increased from 1,250,415 to 1,286,665. Both the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and Royal New Zealand Ballet have extended their reach to more centres throughout the country.

File download

Updated on 1st November 2019