All the information and resources you need to apply for Scripted and Non-fiction content funding.
We fund the development and production of local Scripted and Non-fiction content that reflects and develops New Zealand identity and culture.
Make sure you know:
It’s important to understand our strategy for investing in Scripted and Non-fiction content so you have the best chance for success in a tightly contested fund.
We invest in authentic and meaningful content for the various audiences that make up Aotearoa New Zealand. Our core functions are set out in the 1989 Broadcasting Act.
Learn about what we prioritise in our Investment Model, and for more detail on how we allocate funding check out the strategy explainer page below.
Our Investment Model continues to guide our investment decisions and this document should be read in conjunction with it. While this overview establishes our priorities, please note that the official round guidelines for each of the three funding rounds will contain finalised requirements and parameters for applications.
Follow our guide to understand what you should include in your content proposal and budget.
Your content proposal is your pitch where you describe and define:
You do not need to follow the structure in this guide directly. But you should address the aspects relevant to your tono (application).
As a general rule, the higher the level of funding requested, the more developed and detailed we will require your application to be.
That said, less is often best. Be clear and succinct – there are no prizes for applications with the most pages.
When preparing your application, be sure to consider:
Understand our expectations around acceptable line items for funded projects. You should also read our advice for producers – particularly the contract initiation form, and the producers and cost reporting documents.
Budget Expectations (PDF 261.6 KB)
We try to limit the number of rules we have around acceptable budget/line items, as we know every project has its own unique situation. There are some line items we won’t accept. We also have some specific expectations around how certain line items should be treated.
Our role is to support production costs for content creation, not to provide a means for commissioning platforms to defray content acquisition expenses.
These guidelines are for producers intending to make an application for Scripted or Non-fiction funding.
In an environment where there are more applications than available funding, we want to show you how to submit a tono (application) and how it will be assessed.
More specific information is published prior to each round about the applications we are seeking.
NZ On Air’s investment model is founded on core public media principles. These include:
Download our General guidelines for applicants and Content Development guidelines to learn about:
General guidelines for applicants PDF 435.1 KB
Content Development guidelines for applicants PDF 167.9 KB
2025-26 Funding Priorities Planning Guide for Scripted and Non-fiction content
You need to register as an applicant with our funding application portal to apply for funding. We only consider applications submitted online.
Once you’re registered, you can:
Please note: all material submitted to NZ On Air is covered by the Official Information Act.
We get more applications than available funding. Aromatawai (assessment) stages are tiered so we focus the most on the applications with the most likelihood of success.
Our investment model guides the assessment process. We use the nine investment principles :
These investment principles allow us to assess the business case for each application alongside the application’s cultural case and how it contributes to our strategic goals. In particular, the goals that relate to our funding of Scripted and Non-fiction content are.
The pārongo (information) below walks you through each step of the process.
This document explains the funding assessment and decision-making process in detail
This flowchart shows a breakdown of the process from application to decisions.
From July 2026 projects receiving production funding must register with Te Pae Matarau, a survey tool that monitors the make-up of the New Zealand screen sector workforce.
The objective of Te Pae Matarau is to provide insightful data for and about those who participate in the screen sector to inform future policy, research and funding decisions.
To find out more please go here.
Sign up to receive communications such as media releases, newsletters and funding decisions.