NZ On Air ensures that New Zealand television viewers are able to see themselves and their culture reflected in a range of programmes screening on free-to-air television.
NZ On Air funds programmes under two broad categories:
'high risk', high cost categories such as drama and documentaries;
programmes catering to the special interests of women, youth, children, persons with disabilities and minorities in the community, including ethnic minorities.
Generally the programmes NZ On Air funds would not be able to be produced in a wholly commercial broadcasting environment.
NZ On Air provides around $50 million a year to assist in the production of television programmes as diverse as Documentary New Zealand, What Now?, Mercy Peak and Tagata Pasifika.
NZ On Air also ensures that Māori language and culture are promoted and preserved through television broadcasting. We encourage programme makers to include Māori language, culture and points of view wherever relevant in programmes of all genres.
Within our so-called "umbrella" strands of drama or documentary - such as Inside New Zealand - NZ On Air requires a minimum number of projects to be made by Māori, about Māori and aimed at a general television audience that includes Māori.
