We support targeted content and professional development through our capability-building initiatives and event sponsorship.
We select capability-building initiatives and sponsor events and awards with clear strategic importance to the media, music and game development sectors.
Growing capacity and celebrating success helps ensure New Zealand has a creative and capable production sector.
Our sector support falls into two categories under our Investment strategy : discoverability and capability development.
We support projects that will enable recognised industry organisations to lead initiatives resulting in increased success of New Zealand content.
The funding is for standalone initiatives.
We sponsor industry events, awards, and conferences to promote the quality of local content among New Zealanders and to support our creative sectors in consistently producing valued content. We have a limited amount of pūtea available for sponsorships annually. The sponsorships we offer are for:
Sponsorship of events and awards that recognise high quality creative and technical work. Our preference is for sponsorships to directly support one of the key sectors we fund, and for NZ On Air to be minority funders.
Sponsorship of events intended to connect and upskill media, music and game development professionals and strengthen the sectors' collaboration and coordination. Our preference is for sponsorships to directly support one of the key sectors we fund, and for NZ On Air to be minority funders.
We identify capability and capacity gaps through research and monitoring, and then target initiatives to grow a diverse, talented sector, and to create equitable opportunities to tell stories from an authentic perspective. We mostly partner with sector guilds and experts to deliver this development and training where our research and monitoring has identified gaps.
To support groups of early and mid-career creative professionals to extend their skills and build sector capacity.
Funding for a limited number of industry organisations that offer professional advocacy, information or support services.
You can make an application for a capability or discoverability project to any of the main funding rounds (Tahi, Rua and Toru). Read the Guidelines for applicants first. As we prioritise content funding we have very limited funds available for these projects, and can not guarantee ongoing support for initiatives.
If you're successful in your funding application you will be receive either a funding contract (Capability) or a sponsorship agreement (Discoverability). You'll also need to complete the below reporting to us.
Kahurangi Toi Ātea is a one-year programme that addresses a documented gap between training pathways and industry employment in the New Zealand screen sector. It was created by Share The Knowledge and co-developed with Toi Mai Workforce Development Council and Te Wānanga Whare Tapere o Takitimu.
Research commissioned by the Toi Mai Workforce Development Council (Eaqub et al, June 2025) found that 80% of people working in New Zealand’s creative industries hold no creative qualifications, and 86% of people who do hold creative qualifications are not working in creative roles. The same research found the training system “fundamentally misaligned with the way the screen sector operates” - producing graduates who are credentialled but not industry-ready.
This sits alongside a documented crew shortage and a screen sector with significant national economic weight: $3.6 billion in export earnings in 2023, New Zealand’s fourth-largest export ahead of fruit, wine, and seafood, with a government target to grow the overall creative sector to $22 billion in GDP by 2030.
In comparable screen industries, structured on-set training is standard practice. Screen Australia’s attachment programmes, Screen Queensland, VicScreen, and the Australian Film Television and Radio School all provide pathways for emerging below-the-line crew to work on live productions alongside experienced HoDs. The UK’s ScreenSkills - funded through a levy on productions - has operated crew trainee placement schemes for years, building one of the world’s deepest BTL talent reserves. Ireland and Canada have equivalent mechanisms through Screen Ireland and regional screen agencies.
Kahurangi Toi Ātea has two components, both required for the qualification to be awarded.
Classroom Learning is a two-week, in-person block, ideally delivered during a production’s official prep period, taught by industry-expert Classroom Industry Professionals. It includes an online Introduction to the Screen Industry micro-credential and a one-day in-person Professional Respect course administered by the Screen Industry Guild NZ (SIGNZ). Hau Wānanga, led each morning by Te Wānanga Whare Tapere o Takitimu, embeds tikanga Māori throughout the block.
Workplace Learning is a minimum of 160 hours of guided on-set training on a live production, for which participants are contracted and paid as crew. Each participant is mentored by the relevant Head of Department (the Workplace Industry Professional) and supported by a Kahurangi Toi Ātea Case Manager for pastoral care, with progress meetings throughout.
Assessment is ‘achieved / not achieved’ against NZQA skill standards, with a resubmission process available. Assessment is internally moderated by Te Wānanga Whare Tapere o Takitimu and externally moderated by NZQA on a sample basis. Each participant has an Individual Learning Plan recording goals, observations, and assessment evidence.
On successful completion, participants receive the “New Zealand Certificate in Screen Skills” at the level achieved, presented at a graduation ceremony.
Kahurangi Toi Ātea delivers 52 NZQA-approved screen production courses across five strands: Art, Logistics, Post-Production, Production, and Technical. Courses are available at four levels: Level 3 (Entry), Level 4 (Intermediate), Level 5 (Advanced), and Level 6 (Senior).
The first full implementation of Kahurangi Toi Ātea ran on the feature film Holy Days in Ōtautahi from September to December 2024. The programme received more than 100 applications; 56 participants commenced formal training across 12 specialist courses, averaging approximately 150 hours of on-set workplace experience per participant.
Applicants must be aged 18 or over, hold a current New Zealand driver’s licence, and be available for the full programme dates. Kahurangi Toi Ātea prioritises people with transferable skills from other industries seeking entry into the screen sector; people already working in the screen industry seeking to upskill or formalise their experience; and students aged 18 or over seeking entry pathways.
NZ On Air | Irirangi Te Motu is a public media funding agency. It funds content across television, radio, digital media and music on behalf of New Zealanders - nzonair.govt.nz
Share The Knowledge is a New Zealand screen industry body committed to building sector capability and sustainable production practice. It created Kahurangi Toi Ātea.
Te Wānanga Whare Tapere o Takitimu is the education provider responsible for NZQA accreditation, assessment, and tikanga Māori delivery within Kahurangi Toi Ātea. It has over 40 years of experience in Māori performing arts and full-immersion education.
Netflix is a co-funder of Kahurangi Toi Ātea in 2026-2027.
Register then apply for funding through our online application system.
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