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Come along to our next Public History talk featuring Cybèle Locke discussing her recently published biography of Bill Andersen, Comrade, which examines labour activism, communism and social change, from the 1930s until the turn of the twenty-first century. This talk offers possibilities for how Bill Andersen’s Communist, working-class life might speak to us in the current moment. Join us via Zoom or at the National Library on Wednesday 05 April at 12.10pm.
Public History talk featuring Cybèle Locke - Wednesday 05 April
Join us for free walking tours at Pukeahu National War Memorial Park taking place in March. Visit all points of interest and understand the importance of this historic area to both Wellington and Aotearoa.
Free Pukeahu Summer Walking Tours in March
Following on from a significant first round of funding in 2022, Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga is delighted to announce a further 12 grants of up to $25,000 each have been awarded to iwi, hapū and hāpori Māori projects which support revitalisation of vulnerable mātauranga Māori. For more details, visit Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga's website.
Mātauranga Māori Grants programme recipients announced
Audio Described Aotearoa’s dream of increasing the number of Māori and Pacific audio describers has taken a step closer to reality, thanks to a grant from Manatū Taonga Ministry for Culture and Heritage.
Audio Described Aotearoa to train Māori and Pacific audio describers
The New Zealand Film Commission (NZFC) is pleased to announce the appointment of Taima Anne (Annie) Murray (Te Arawa) to the position of Chief Executive Officer for a five-year term. NZFC Board Chair Alastair Carruthers, in making the announcement today, said “I am delighted that we have found someone of Annie’s calibre to lead the Commission. She has exceptional experience and a deep commitment to stories from the diverse voices of Aotearoa. I have no doubt she will have a positive impact on filmmakers and the organisation in years to come”.
NZFC Announces New CEO
This month Creative NZ is kicking off the kōrero, inviting artists, arts organisations and their communities to join a series of conversations taking place across the country to co-develop pathways to better serve the arts in Aotearoa. There’s lots of ways to get involved wherever you are, so check out the information on their website to find out more about where CNZ will be and how to you can tell them about your future vision for arts development in New Zealand.
Creative NZ to host regional workshops about the future of arts development
On Tuesday 14 February 2023, Te Papa celebrated 25 years since opening with a new Rautaki | Strategy to take it forward into the future. The museum’s co-leaders, Kaihautū | Māori Co-leader Arapata Hakiwai and Tumu Whakarae | Chief Executive Courtney Johnston, and its Board led by Dame Fran Wilde have embraced a new vision for Te Papa to carry it forward for the next 25 years and beyond.
Te Papa celebrates 25 years with new strategy
Manatū Taonga Ministry for Culture and Heritage has published its inaugural Long-term Insights Briefing for the cultural sector. The Briefing explores five key areas that will influence the vibrancy and resilience of the cultural sector ecosystem in the future.
Long-term Insights Briefing highlights opportunities for future of Aotearoa’s arts, culture and heritage

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Home Publications Our accountability reports Four-year plan 2016

Four-year plan 2016

Our distinctive culture is at the core of what makes New Zealand a great place to live. Cultural expression, engagement and understanding are fundamental to a vibrant and healthy society and help define what it is to be a New Zealander. Cultural expression expands individual capacities, helps bind society and provides jobs and innovation in the economy.

Māori culture is central to New Zealand’s uniqueness as a place, a society and a nation. Strong partnerships between iwi-Māori and the Crown are essential in ensuring Māori culture is protected and flourishes.

Culture is produced by creative and innovative individuals, groups and organisations. The activities, goods and services they create, produce, distribute and present to the world have a value which is not only cultural but also social and economic.

New Zealand’s rapid demographic transformation is being led by Auckland which is emerging as a vibrant hub that celebrates its strong Pacific and Asian links. Successful cultural activity helps us to connect as a changing nation and to connect within and across our communities.

Government makes a significant contribution to the broad cultural sector each year. The government invests almost $400 million each year in heritage, arts, media and sport through Vote Arts, Culture and Heritage and Vote Sport and Recreation.

Support for the cultural sector is also provided through other public funding, most notably the education portfolio and local government. Around $100 million is provided by the NZ Lottery Grants Board to four cultural sector agencies - Sport New Zealand, Creative New Zealand, the NZ Film Commission (in their statutory body capacity) and Ngā Taonga Sound and Vision.

Through partnerships, sponsorship and revenue generation, the Ministry and our funded agencies have increased the level of third- party revenue from $50 million to $80 million over the past 10 years in the government funded cultural sector. There is a continued focus on increasing third-party revenue in particular through philanthropy, through fund-raising through trusts and foundations.

Read the Four-Year Plan 2016 here (pdf version)

Updated on 31st October 2019