Funding boost for four New Zealand cultural events

Four celebrated Māori and Pasifika events will receive up to $100,000 each in funding from New Zealand’s new Creative and Cultural Events Incubator fund.

The four events that were successful in the inaugural funding round are:

• Kia Mau Festival, Wellington

• Māoriland Film Festival, Otaki

• Te Tairāwhiti Arts Festival, Gisborne

• Te Matatini, Auckland 2021.

The fund was launched earlier this year to provide seed and development funding for creative and cultural events.

New Zealand Economic Development Minister Phil Twyford said the fund was set up as part of the Government’s new direction for major events which aims to better support creative and cultural events to become internationally significant.

Minister Twyford notes “this is just the start. We will reopen the fund for further applications later this year, as our goal is to help many more Māori and Pasifika arts and culture events flourish.

“We must celebrate creative events that are culturally unique to New Zealand, and that help shine a positive light on our place in the world. These events are great examples of that and have strong plans for growth to achieve the global attention we want.

“Our Government recognises the event sector will play an important role in helping connect our communities as we all work to rebuild following COVID-19.”

Image: 2019 Te Tairāwhiti Arts Festival