Applying for Scripted and Non-fiction funding

All the information and resources you need to apply for Scripted and Non-fiction content funding.

a young boy in a dairy
Takeout Kids S2, Hexwork Productions

We fund the development and production of local Scripted and Non-fiction content that reflects and develops New Zealand identity and culture.

Before you apply

Make sure you know:

  • what we can fund
  • what you'll need to include in your application
  • how we'll assess your application.

What we can fund

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 valued, diverse and discoverable public media content. Our core functions are set out in the 1989 Broadcasting Act.

Learn about what we prioritise in our investment strategy, and for more detail on how we allocate funding check out the strategy explainer page below.

Our funding strategy explained.

Structuring your application

Follow our guide to understand what you should include in your content proposal and budget.

What a content proposal is

Your content proposal is your pitch where you describe and define:

  • the content you want to make
  • how it will be made and by who
  • how you plan to reach your intended audience.

Structuring the proposal

You do not need to follow the structure in this guide directly. But you should address the aspects relevant to your tono (application).

How detailed to be

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.

Things to consider

When preparing your application, be sure to consider:

Budgets and line items

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)

Resources for funded projects

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.

Guidelines for producers

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 strategy is founded on core public media principles. These include:

  • enriching the New Zealand cultural experience
  • improving diversity of media content in many forms
  • ensuring kaupapa is accessible
  • strengthening community life
  • promoting informed debate.

Download our General guidelines for applicants and Content Development guidelines to learn about:

  • applying online
  • general expectations of production applications
  • qualifying platforms
  • business case expectations, such as co-investment
  • different levels of application requirements depending on the level of funding requested
  • how we assess proposals
  • the fine print
  • and applying for content development funding.

General guidelines for applicants PDF 435.1 KB
Content Development guidelines for applicants PDF 167.9 KB

Submitting your application

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:

  • manage your tono (application) through your personal dashboard
  • nominate supporting platforms
  • update your business information.

Please note: all material submitted to NZ On Air is covered by the Official Information Act.

Register or submit your application

How we assess applications

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.

Principles for assessment

Our investment strategy guides the assessment process. We use the nine investment principles (detailed on page 16) :

  • cultural value
  • balance
  • risk
  • competition
  • value for money
  • no duplication
  • leverage
  • capability
  • fairness.

These investment principles allow us to assess the business case for each application alongside the application’s cultural case and how it contributes to these three funding goals.

  1. Valued content: New Zealand audiences value local content that matters.
  2. Diverse content: New Zealand audiences value local content made for a range of communities.
  3. Discoverable content: New Zealand audiences can find and appreciate local content.

Process in detail

The pārongo (information) below walks you through each step of the process. It covers:

  • Preliminary step: confirm eligibility
  • Stage 1 Assessment: groups of individual assessors assess applications while considering the nine investment principles
  • Stage 2 Assessment: funding recommendations are prepared
  • Stage 3: Decisions by the Staff Investment Committee or the Board.

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