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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
Following the UNESCO World Conference on Cultural Policies and Sustainable Development – Mondiacult, which took place in Mexico City last year, UNESCO NZ has come together with UNESCO Pacific to produce a captivating and colourful video showcasing our Pacific contribution to the conference.
Pacific represents at UNESCO Conference on Cultural Policies and Sustainable Development
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
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
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
This year marks the centenary of Katherine Mansfield's death. In 1908, Mansfield left Edwardian provincial life in Wellington in search of a new literary life in England and Europe. Somewhere she could be, a place to settle and call home. She never forgot her early impressions and memories of Aotearoa and continually referenced it in her writings. Join the KM2023 Centenary team throughout 2023 to celebrate one hundred years of her creative legacy – check out their events page for a Mansfield event near you, or find inspiration in these ideas for how to get involved in your own way.
Katherine Mansfield Centenary events for October
The fortnightly Wellington Heritage Festival runs from 23 October to 5 November 2023. Book now for a wide range of events including free walking tours of Pukeahu National War Memorial Park.
Pukeahu walking tours at the Wellington Heritage Festival
Local and international audiences have three brand new series to look forward to from talented New Zealand content teams, telling Aotearoa’s stories. Two series that debuted in 2023 have also secured a second year of support from Irirangi Te Motu| NZ On Air. One of the stand-out local drama hits of 2023, The Gone will return for a second season on TVNZ 1 and TVNZ+. Learn more on NZ On Air's website.
NZ On Air announces three new drama series and two popular returning series
Following a triumphant BBC Proms debut in London, New Zealand Symphony Orchestra Artistic Advisor and Principal Conductor Gemma New returns home for unmissable concert experiences in Auckland, Wellington, Dunedin and Hamilton from 27 October.
Star conductor Gemma New leads NZSO for exciting concert line-up

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Home Funding Media Sector Support

Media Sector Support

Our role

The media plays a vital role in a healthy democracy by holding governments and the commercial sector to account, sharing the stories that are important to us and reflecting who we are as New Zealanders. Our media showcases Aotearoa’s unique identity, culture and languages.

Manatū Taonga Ministry for Culture and Heritage works with the media sector and provides advice to the Minister for Broadcasting and Media, to help address the challenges and opportunities faced by the sector.

We also share guidance with the media sector on changes in policy and legislation that could impact on their environment and operations.

Working alongside our funding agencies, we draw on specific expertise within the sector to design and deliver initiatives that help media organisations evolve and flourish over time.

Initiatives

Government has a range of initiatives underway to support the media sector in the short term and shape a more sustainable media eco-system in the long term.  

Strong Public Media
Public Interest Journalism Fund
Content regulation review
Post COVID-19 relief

Strong Public Media

The Strong Public Media programme was tasked with supporting the creation of a new public media entity that would disestablish Television New Zealand (TVNZ) and Radio New Zealand (RNZ) to create a new public media entity, Aotearoa New Zealand Public Media (ANZPM). On 8 February 2023, the Government announced that work on establishing ANZPM would stop.  

More information on the Strong Public Media Programme. 

Public Interest Journalism fund

In February 2021, former Minister for Broadcasting and Media, Kris Faafoi announced a $55 million package to support public interest journalism. The Public Interest Journalism Fund supported New Zealand’s media to continue to produce stories that keep New Zealanders informed and engaged and support a healthy democracy.
 
NZ On Air administered the Public Interest Journalism Fund. Read their 19 April 2023 media release Expectations exceeded as Public Interest Journalism Fund comes to a close.
 
More information on the Public Interest Journalism Fund. 
 

Media and online content regulation

A comprehensive review of media content regulation in New Zealand was announced by former Minister of Internal Affairs, Hon Jan Tinetti, on 8 June 2021. The review is managed by the Department of Internal Affairs, with support from Manatū Taonga. 

The review aims to create a new modern, flexible and coherent regulatory framework to mitigate the harmful impacts of media content, regardless of how it is delivered.

The framework will still need to protect and enhance important democratic freedoms, including freedom of expression and freedom of the press.

For more information please visit the Department of Internal Affairs website. 
 

COVID-19 relief 

COVID-19 exacerbated the existing challenges facing the media sector.  The drop in advertising revenue through the lockdowns also had a significant impact on many media organisations.

In April 2020, Manatū Taonga Ministry for Culture and Heritage worked with the sector to rapidly develop the $50 million media sector support package. This support package focussed on reducing cost and easing cashflow pressure for a range of media organisations.  $18 million made available to the sector within a month of announcing the relief. As of June 2021, $39.48 million has been delivered to support more than 300 media organisations. Organisations that have received support range from small broadcasters serving specific communities to large media companies that reach a spread of New Zealanders.

Manatū Taonga engaged MartinJenkins to carry out an independent review of the Media Support Package. More information on Media Support Package Review Report. 

The initiatives were:

Transmission fee waiver  in which the Government fund six months of transmission fees for DTT, DTH, FM and AM for eligible organisations.

NZ On Air Platform contribution in which Government fund 80% of the platform contribution fees for 2020/21 for eligible media organisations.

Advance purchase of news subscriptions in which Government make advance purchase on news subscriptions for selected government agencies for 2020/21.

Advance purchase of advertising in which Government make advance payment for government agency advertising space for 2020/21, to eligible media organisations.

Publications grant in which $4 million is targeted at media organisations that have yet to receive significant relief from the fund – in particular magazines and community newspapers.

Further information 

Other useful sites Unite against COVID-19 and COVID-19: Information for Businesses

If you have any queries please contact [email protected]

Public Interest Journalism Fund

Minister for Broadcasting and Media, Kris Faafoi has announced a $55 million package to support public interest journalism. The Journalism Fund will support New Zealand’s media to continue to produce stories that keep New Zealanders informed and engaged and support a healthy democracy.

Thank you for subscribing - Media Sector Support

Subscription acknowledgement for Media Sector Suppport

Our role in Media and Broadcasting

Working with the sector, Government looks at how support for the media sector can be shaped and implemented in the short and long term.

Publications Grant

$4 million of funds from the Government’s $50 million media support package was targeted at media organisations that had yet to receive significant relief from the fund – in particular magazines and community newspapers.

Government Advertising

The focus of more immediate relief in response to the impact of Covid-19 is easing cashflow pressure across the sector. Of particular importance is provide this relief to a wide range of local media organisations and channels, to support plurality of voice in the media.

Government News subscriptions

Manatū Taonga Ministry for Culture and Heritage on behalf of 32 government departments and 4 departmental agencies, will fund subscriptions or memberships to news services for these government departments for the 2020/21 year.

NZ On Air Platform Contribution

Manatū Taonga Ministry for Culture and Heritage and New Zealand On Air Irirangi Te Motu worked together to deliver an initiative that decreases the cost for broadcasters on their platform contribution by 80%.

Transmission Fee Waiver

Under the first round of this initiative Manatū Taonga Ministry for Culture and Heritage has funded the costs of six months of transmission fees payable to Kordia TV/FM, RNZ AM and for iwi radio stations.

Updated on 21st July 2023