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The COVID-19 Cultural Recovery Programme Impacts Report 2021/22 looks at the impact of COVID-19 funding for the arts, culture, heritage, media and broadcasting sectors delivered between June 2021 and July 2022. 
COVID-19 Cultural Recovery Programme Impacts Report 2021/22
The Government is making it easier for the screen sector to access support in order to attract more domestic and international productions to help grow the economy.
Supporting a strong future for screen sector
More than forty cultural sector initiatives have been announced today as the latest recipients of the Cultural Sector Regeneration Fund, giving them the backing they need to make a lasting impact for the arts, culture and heritage sectors.
Third Regeneration Fund decisions to support key cultural infrastructure
Creative New Zealand Toi Aotearoa is calling for public nominations for ngā toi Māori artists, arts practitioners to be recognised at this year’s Ngā Taonga Toi a Te Waka Toi Awards 2023. The purpose of Ngā Taonga Toi a Te Waka Toi Awards is to recognise artistic excellence, achievement and the contribution of Māori artists working in customary and contemporary ngā toi Māori to Aotearoa New Zealand. Three awards are open for public nomination from 5 May to 12 June 2023.
Nga Taonga Toi a Te Waka Toi 2023 Nominations Open Now
Shakespeare’s greatest love story returns to the Royal New Zealand Ballet in a passionate re-telling choreographed by Andrea Schermoly (Stand to Reason, Within Without). Exquisite sets and costumes by Academy Award-winning designer James Acheson, first seen onstage in 2017 to universal acclaim, bring to life all the splendour and seduction of Renaissance Verona, swept up in Prokofiev’s exhilarating, sensuous score. Touring nationwide, the latest production finishes in Napier on 10 June.
RNZB presents Romeo & Juliet
Saturday 1 July and Sunday 2 July will see senior Māori performers from around the country take the stage in Te Papa’s Soundings Theatre. More than a dozen groups from the far north to Te Waipounamu are travelling to Te Papa to perform kapa haka over the two days. The event is free to the public, and the performances are live-streamed by Te Papa on Facebook and YouTube to reach a national and global audience – in the past more than 100,000 people have viewed live-streams of the performances.
Taikura Kapa Haka returns to Te Papa Saturday 1 and Sunday 2 July
The New Zealand Symphony will perform selections from a landmark work by legendary Baroque violin virtuoso Heinrich Biber from Kerikeri to Blenheim in June.
Bohemian rhapsody: NZSO to perform Baroque masterpiece
Significant damage caused at the National Erebus Memorial site by recent extreme and unprecedented weather events in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, means a new enduring home for the memorial needs to be found.
New site required for National Erebus Memorial due to safety concerns
As the Mānawatia a Matariki exhibition opens, Te Papa is sharing nationwide research and visitor insights that show how New Zealanders are embracing the indigenous New Year. The museum has also released its Matariki events programme including Taikura Kapa Haka, and launched new online resources at https://tepapa.nz/matariki.
Te Papa research reveals how New Zealanders mark Matariki

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Home NZ Identity & Heritage National Anthems John Joseph Woods - composer

John Joseph Woods - composer

John Joseph Woods was the son of a soldier, born and educated in Tasmania, and later became a county clerk. He was creative and very musical, playing 12 instruments but mainly the violin. He was about 27 when the Advertiser ran its competition for a musical setting to Bracken's God Defend New Zealand, and teaching at the Roman Catholic school in the gold-mining town of Lawrence.

It was 9pm when the Advertiser reached him.  'On reading the beautiful and appealing words,'  he wrote to AH Reed in 1927, 'I immediately felt like one inspired . . . I set to work instanter and never left my seat 'till the music was completely finished late on in the night.’

This spark of inspiration gave God Defend New Zealand its enduring character and the ability to survive recurring criticisms that the anthem lacks musical distinction. In many ways it is the ideal complement to Bracken's verse, which expresses the aspirations of ordinary people with plenty of spirit but little academic or poetic pretension.

The former residence of John Woods in Lawrence, South Otago. The house is known as 'Anthem House' and although it is privately owned, is a tourist attraction. Image courtesy of Peter Ballantyne.

Another view of 'Anthem House' provided courtesy of Peter Ballantyne

Woods was a community man. In his district he was an all-round sportsman, a member and office-bearer in clubs and societies, long serving choir master of the Roman Catholic Church — and County Clerk for the Tuapeka County Council for 55 years.

This final achievement makes him unique in New Zealand's history. When he retired in 1932 at the age of 83 his services were recognised by creating him a 'freeman of the county' - the first time anyone in the British Dominion had been given such an honour.

He thought music a divine art and saw heaven '. . . as a beautiful garden of celestial flowers peopled by choirs of angels, whose songs of praise and adoration would replace their present-day earthly language.'  Not everyone's vision perhaps, but indicative of the populist sentiment that has kept his music for God Defend New Zealand close to the aspirations of the average New Zealander.

Updated on 11th May 2023