A note from the CE
Cameron Harland, Chief Executive - Tumu Whakarae
Tēnā koutou.
I’ve been heartened by the positive feedback we’ve received following the release of our new investment strategy. It’s an evolutionary way of viewing our mahi that is designed to acknowledge much that we have been doing as core to our purpose and allow us to respond to the changing media environment and audience needs. With our funding for the 2023/24 year now confirmed, including a one-off additional $10m, we can now be more clear about the coming funding rounds, and will soon publish our Statement of Performance Expectations.
We have received a number of enquiries about how the $10m will be allocated. We are working on the details and will be able to provide more information on this soon. The direction we are taking mirrors what was set out in the Cabinet paper at a high level, that asked we support the creation of “innovative content to reach new audiences… to deliver trusted public media news, information and entertainment through cross-sector collaboration. Its aim will be to reach groups who are currently under-represented across the media system (such as Māori, Pacific, Asian, rangatahi and children) including new initiatives for tamariki that parents, caregivers and educators can trust.”
As we near the end of the three-year Public Interest Journalism Fund (PIJF) I am immensely proud of the work our team has done, alongside industry advisors, to ensure funding has supported quality public interest journalism across the motu. The infographics we published last week show at a very high level where the funds have gone, but we’ll be able to reflect more thoroughly on the fund’s impact when we produce a final report in June. We were never going to be able to solve all the problems besetting the media industry with a time-limited fund, but one very important legacy of the PIJF will be the investment in training that has seen new and diverse voices enter the profession.
On a similar note, we are delighted to have added a new focused music round to our singles funding stream, targeted at uplifting participation of Pan-Asian music artists. Adding a Pan-Asian round to the New Music Singles, Waiata Takitahi, New Music Pasifika and New Music Kids rounds provides an opportunity to address the under-representation of Pan-Asian artists in funding applications. Our job is to ‘reflect and develop New Zealand identity and culture’, and being more inclusive of Pan-Asian artists in this way is an important step towards achieving this.
As always we appreciate engagement and insights from you all. There is still much change happening in our media ecosystem and we are constantly seeking to address these changes in the way we act and the way we support whether building greater capability in the sector, encouraging the discoverability of funded content, delivering insights and research or funding. If you have thoughts about what we are doing or what could be done differently please get in touch.
Ngā mihi nui
Cam
Stakeholder survey results
Every two years we survey a cross-section of our stakeholders to understand how well we are serving you. We last undertook the survey late last year and have today published the results. The survey was conducted by Kantar Public from 28 November to 12 December, which the observant among you will recall was around the time we were consulting on a new strategy that was required for an anticipated budget cut due to the then planned new public media entity.
We are pleased to retain a high trust score (78%) and high satisfaction rating (also 78%), with Kantar telling us these are high scores for a public agency. Importantly many of the areas of focus the survey results point to are areas we are more focused on in our new investment strategy ( funding a broader range of content, more interactive and digital content and more funding for smaller/newer creative, for example). We also continue to rate highly for our research, leadership and policy input.
The areas of downward trend are not unexpected given the constraints on funding, the challenges of operating through COVID-19, and some of the unwarranted/misguided criticism that's come our way related to the Public Interest Journalism Fund. Clearly one strong factor in how satisfied our stakeholders are is the chance of a successful funding application. In Music over the past three years we have had a decline rate of 76% in New Music Singles, in Scripted and Factual the decline rate has gone from a few percent in the early 2000’s to now around 55-58% (this year and previous). In PIJF the decline rate has been an average 62%.
Be assured we do listen to the results of this survey, and we take them into account as we plan our mahi and interact with you.
Thank you once again for your input if you were among those surveyed. You can read the report below.
Te Māngai Pāho | NZ On Air - Regional News Hubs Continuation RFP
In Budget 2022 Te Māngai Pāho was allocated additional funding specifically to continue and expand the Regional News pilot initiative and to strengthen the regional contributions to the News and Current Affairs landscape. The Public Interest Journalism Fund administered by NZ On Air has agreed to contribute $3m to the Regional News initiative that Te Māngai Pāho will administer.
This RFP (Request For Proposals) is an invitation to returning Regional News Hub initiatives to apply for investment to lead their respective regional news collaboration projects in the new financial year. The expectation is that each service will be funded for a minimum of 12 months between 1 July 2023 and 30 June 2024. Please note that at this stage there is no guarantee of funding beyond 30 June 2024.
For more information on how to apply and funding deadlines, please see the Te Māngai Pāho website.
Latest funding decisions
We received 27 applications to the final general round of the Public Interest Journalism Fund seeking over $3.9m. A panel including independent industry assessors recommended 36 roles and 3 industry development initiatives for funding for up to $3.2m.
Six bilingual and fluent te reo Māori projects were also successful in the fifth NZ On Air and Te Māngai Pāho co-fund, receiving in total up to $6.6m in funding.
The full details of all funding decisions are at the end of this newsletter. You can also use the funding decisions search on our website.
The Drawing Board, Faultline Films for Whakaata Māori
NZ On Air and Te Māngai Pāho co-fund
NZ On Air and Te Māngai Pāho have announced the successful applicants for the fifth co-funding round with six bilingual and fluent te reo Māori projects receiving in total up to $6.6m.
The Casketeers with return to TVNZ+ 1 with their series The Casketeers: Life and Death Around the World, The Drawing Board is back for a second season on Whakaata Māori, and four exciting new projects are also on their way.
Read more in our NZ On Air | Te Māngai Pāho co-fund media release.
Public Interest Journalism Fund
Ensuring the sustainability and ongoing success of existing funded roles was the key focus of the final general round of the Public Interest Journalism Fund (PIJF).
The seventh and final round has extended funding for 36 roles through into 2025, with one role running to January 2026, and supported journalism from Queenstown to Hawkes Bay. Thirteen of those roles will support Māori content, four for Pasifika media and two ethnic media roles.
As the PIJF comes to a close the final numbers speak to the breadth of content supported and audiences reached, and ongoing impact on growing the next generation of journalists. To date the fund has supported 73 projects, 219 roles and 22 industry development projects in total across seven funding rounds. It has seen more than 60,000 pieces of news content created that have had more than 134 million total views.
The PIJF has also recently stepped in to ensure media in the Hawkes Bay and Tairawhiti are better prepared to serve their communities with vital public interest journalism in the wake of recent Civil Defence emergencies. Cyclone Gabrielle caused widespread communications disruption and many media in the Hawkes Bay and Tairawhiti region struggled to continue day-to-day operations.
NZ On Air invited eight organisations who currently receive Public Interest Journalism funding in those affected regions to apply for additional one-off special Emergency Resilience Funding. Five of those eight organisations applied for funding and have been granted one-off additional funding, to a total of $112,916.
A final report looking at the fund's impact is due in June.
Read more in our PIJF final round media release, PIJF final numbers media release and PIJF emergency resilience media release.
% expenditure to date
Music update
New Music Pan-Asian
We announced this month a new one-off targeted fund to support the Pan-Asian music community. The NZ On Air New Music Pan-Asian fund is designed to increase the amount of quality Pan-Asian music content available in Aotearoa, and to support artists to connect with Pan-Asian and mainstream audiences.
It was created due to the lack of equitable representation of Pan-Asian artists in the music sector, as reported in the 2022 NZ On Air Diversity Report which showed in 2021/22, the total number of applications to the New Music Single fund from applicants who identified as Asian was 4.14%, up from 3.56% in 2020/21. The number of applicants to the New Music Project fund who identified as Asian dropped from 4% in 2020/21 to zero in 2021/22. There were, however, 4.4% in 2021/22 who identified as European and Asian.
NZ On Air consulted with Pan-Asian representatives of the Aotearoa music community – to ensure, from the outset, that there was a clear understanding of the challenges for the Pan-Asian community and how funding would help address those.
New Music Pan-Asian is a single-track funding scheme which provides up to $10,000 funding towards the costs of recording, releasing, video content, marketing and promotion. The round opens 4 May 2023 and is available to all musicians in Aotearoa who self-identify as Pan-Asian. Pan-Asian, as defined by the ‘M49 Standard’ from the United Nations, covers all of Asia (Central, Eastern, South-Eastern, Southern and Western Asia.)
Te Marama Puoro o Aotearoa | NZ Music Month 2023 - Community and Collaboration
The theme for this year's NZ Music Month is a celebration of working together to build a more connected and collaborative music landscape across Aotearoa. Working together is incredibly valuable for a thriving and creative music sector, and at NZ On Air we especially see this with collaboration between songwriters.
This May Music Month is looking jammed packed with activities and events across the motu including YAMI Sounds Summit in Wanaka (6-7 May) , SOLE speaker series in Christchurch (weekly in May), Children’s Music Awards (6 May) NZ Music T-Shirt Day (26 May) , Music Month Summit in Auckland and streamed (27 May).
There will be an extra media spotlight on Music Month in May including extra NZ music features on radio and online.
All details on this year’s NZ Music Month are available here
Theia Te Kaahu, won Best Independent Debut for her album.
Awards Season
Award season has begun, with the Taite Music Awards held on Tuesday 18 April at Q Theatre. The awards were hosted by NZ On Air’s Music Funding Advisor Sarah Thomson, and our Senior Communications Advisor Suzanne De Spong presented the NZ On Air Outstanding Music Journalism prize.
Princess Chelsea was awarded the 2023 Taite Music Prize for her album ‘Everything Is Going To Be Alright’ , and NZ On Air is proud to have supported this album with funding, along with the TE KAAHU ‘Te Kaahu O Rangi’ album which won the Auckland Live Best Independent Debut.
Congratulations to all the winners on the night:
2023 Taite Music Prize – Princess Chelsea ‘Everything Is Going To Be Alright’
2023 NZ On Air Outstanding Music Journalism – Namita Kumar and Nadia Freeman
2023 Auckland Live Best Independent Debut – TE KAAHU ‘Te Kaahu O Rangi’
Independent Music NZ Classic Record – Micronism ‘inside a quite mind’
Independent Spirit Award – Paul Huggins
Read more: https://www.indies.co.nz/taite-music-prize/
Meet the team
Kelly Davis, Associate Head of Funding (People) - Tumuaki Tūhono Pūtea (Tāngata)
Meet Kelly, our Associate Head of Funding (People) - Tumuaki Tūhono Pūtea (Tāngata) at NZ On Air.
Day-to-day Kelly is in charge of wrangling our team of funding advisors, ensuring they are well supported throughout the funding process and able to make decisions efficiently and fairly. She also works closely with platforms, producers, and industry bodies - discussing the challenges they face and working together on solutions to get more great New Zealand content in front of local audiences.
Some of Kelly's favourite funded projects include Sik Fan Lah! (which she recommends not watching on an empty stomach) and the hilarious tamariki series Bird’s Eye View and My Favourite Dead Person.
Learn more about Kelly and her role at NZ On Air on our Meet The Team page.
Funding details
NZ On Air and Te Māngai Pāho co-fund
The total funding is split approx. 50/50 between Te Māngai Pāho and NZ On Air.
End of the Valley, 6 x 26 mins, Miro Productions for Whakaata Māori, up to $2,359,987. A fluent new drama series that navigates land claim negotiations and the struggle between loyalty and survival. The series will follow protagonist, Kaea Williams, as he unravels the secrets of Ngāti Kiokio and the death of a father he never knew.
The Casketeers: Life and Death Around the World, 6 x 44 mins, Great Southern Television for TVNZ 1, up to $1,537,537. This series will follow Kaiora and Francis Tipene as they discover the deeply held traditions and rituals of death and dying from different cultures around the world.
Relentless, 9 x 22 mins, Fire Fire for TVNZ+, up to $1,000,668. An all-access docuseries that follows 10 hopefuls as they compete for a place on the City Kickboxing team.
The Drawing Board S2, 8 x 25 mins, Faultline Films for Whakaata Māori, up to $669,521. A series showcasing Māori-led and Māori-designed architectural projects across the motu – fronted by Derek Kawiti (Ngāti Hine, Ngāpuhi, Tūhoe, Ngāti Porou), Professor of Architecture at Victoria University.
Motuhaketanga , 2 x 52 mins, Black Iris for Whakaata Māori, up to $539,660. A two-part documentary special that will follow three wāhine Māori as they prepare to leave prison, the challenges they face and their pathway to creating their own motuhaketanga or self-determination.
Why Apu?, 6 x 20 mins, Te Amokura Productions for online platforms, up to $515,729.Why Apu? will look into the environmental disasters currently facing Te Tairāwhiti and the fight for the future of the environment and for future generations.
Public Interest Journalism
Roles
Digital News Sub-Editor, 95bfm, up to $36,956.An additional year of funding for the Digital News Sub-Editor, who creates news content for 95bfm’s website and social media channels. The role increases the reach of the station’s news to its student audience and undertakes training for volunteer student journalists.
One Digital Content Creator and one Producer, Te reo o Ngati Kahungunu, up to $204,176. An additional year of funding for Te reo o Ngati Kahungunu’s two targeted roles. The Digital Content Producer makes sure that the station’s news is accessible to its digital audience and the Producer facilitates regular high-quality news interviews.
One Audience Engagement Expert and one Hamilton Reporter, Indian Newslink, up to $199,650. An additional year of funding for two roles. The Audience Engagement Expert connects the outlet’s news with its digital audiences and the Hamilton Reporter produces stories about youth issues, poverty, culture, family violence and education.
One Te Reo Māori Translator and two Marlborough Reporters, Stuff, up to $249,260. A further 12 months funding for three roles. The Te Reo Māori Translator normalises the use of te reo and caters to reo Māori-speaking audiences by providing daily translations of news stories. Both Marlborough Reporters deliver important local news stories for and about the Marlborough region.
Four Roles, Pacific Media Network, up to $430,849. An additional year of funding for a Political Reporter, a Current Affairs Producer, a Digital Editor/Camera operator and a Sub-Editor to produce high-quality multimedia news stories for and by the Pasifika community.
Video News Journalist, Te reo Irirangi o Maniapoto, up to $85,000. Te reo Irirangi o Maniapoto is receiving funding to retain its Video News Journalist for another year. The role produces news stories that are relevant to local iwi and the wider Māori population, for the station’s Te reo Kahika news service.
Farmers Weekly Digital Editor, AgriHQ, up to $89,981. A further 12 months funding to AgriHQ for its Digital Editor, who creates and circulates digital content from the company’s flagship agricultural publication, Farmer’s Weekly, which serves to grow the quality and reach of agricultural news.
Kaupapa Māori Editor, NZME, up to $123,600. NZME is receiving a 12-month funding extension for its Kaupapa Māori Editor. The role not only produces news stories from a te ao Māori lens but provides leadership and Kaupapa training across NZME’s newsrooms.
Three Court Reporter roles, Allied Press, up to $266,951. A continued year of funding for three court reporting roles which produce local justice coverage from the Family Court, Youth Court, Employment Relations Authority and other tribunals, for Allied Press’ South Island outlets.
Four News Roles, E-Tangata, up to $350,496. Funding to retain four news roles for an additional year. These include a Senior Writer/Editor – Pacific News, a Senior Writer/Editor – Māori News, an Editor/Mentor and a Digital Marketing Manager. All roles contribute to the production of high-quality current affairs and news stories for Māori and Pasifika audiences while strengthening E-Tangata’s newsroom.
One Te ao Māori Editor and one Sub-Editor, Metro, up to $51,066. A further 12 months funding for Metro’s te ao Māori Editor to continue developing Māori writers and providing a te ao Māori perspective across news stories, and a Sub-Editor to ensure a high standard of accuracy and fact-checking for Metro’s content.
Rural Content Editor, Ashburton Guardian, up to $85,000. A one-year continuation of the Ashburton Guardian’s Rural Content Editor, who creates and delivers news content focused on agri-business and rural issues across the Canterbury region.
Kaupapa Māori Reporter, Gisborne Herald, up to $77,464. A further year of funding to retain the Kaupapa Māori Reporter. The role has revitalised and normalised te ao Māori reporting in a region with a large Māori population and is helping the Gisborne Herald to build its cultural capabilities.
Auckland Council Reporter, Local Matters, up to $84,579. An additional 12 months funding for an Auckland Council Reporter to continue reporting on significant Auckland Council issues for nine community news outlets, including Local Matters, Gulf News Waiheke, The Howick & Pakuranga Times, The Botany & Ormiston Times, the Pohutukawa Coast Times, Mahurangi Matters, Hibiscus Matters, The Devonport Flagstaff and the Rangitoto Observer.
Māori Affairs Reporter, Newshub, up to $145,810. A one-year extension for Newshub’s Māori Affairs Reporter who ensures that te tirohanga Māori (a Māori lens) is placed on coverage of significant mainstream stories while providing direction and input on decisions made in the wider newsroom.
Sub-Editor, Newsroom, up to $94,395. A further 12 months funding for Newroom’s Sub-Editor, who edits content from the platform’s journalists, freelance writers, and contributors, as well as providing production services and quality control across all Newsroom articles.
Māori Political Reporter, The Spinoff, up to $61, 050. A 12-month extension for The Spinoff’s Māori Political Reporter who provides coverage on Māori politics and current affairs for the platform’s audiences. This role is part-time.
Sub-Editor, The Spinoff, up to $105,450. A 12-month extension for The Spinoff’s Sub-Editor who edits copy, proofreads news items, fact-checks pieces, writes compelling headlines and assesses risk and liabilities before content is published.
One full-time News Reporter and one part-time News Reporter, Valley Profile, up to $89,300. An additional year of funding for two news roles which provide high-quality local reporting for the Hauraki Plains, Paeroa, Thames and Thames Coast, and the Coromandel Peninsula regions. Both roles produce content for the Valley Profile and the Coromandel App.
Two part-time Local Accountability Reporters, BayBuzz, up to $88,800. An additional 12 months of funding to BayBuzz to retain two part-time Local Accountability Reporters who cover local issues of consequence, including the regional economy, healthcare, agribusiness and council decision-making in the Hawke’s Bay area.
Senior Editorial Role, Crux, up to $126,250. A further year of funding for Crux’s Senior Editorial Role which provides newsroom mentoring as well as in-depth news coverage for topics impacting the Wānaka, Cromwell,and Queenstown regions.
Industry Development Funding
Disability: Industry Development Training, Attitude Pictures, up to $7,600. Additional multimedia training for Attitude Pictures’ journalism cadet. This upskilling will enable the cadet, who lives with a disability, to strengthen his capability to produce digital journalism.
Chinese Journalism Cadetship Programme Extension, Go Global, up to $141,280. An extension of the existing cadetship programme which will see two more Chinese-background cadets trained in the production of digital journalism.
Data Aotearoa, NZ Geographic, up to $98,824. A four-day wānanga to develop 18 data journalists across senior and emerging levels to improve the quality of data journalism and the diversity of data journalists in this increasingly relevant field. Hosted in conjunction with the Science Media Centre.
Emergency Resilience relief
Gisborne Herald, up to $12,324
Hawkes Bay App, up to $21,429
Te Reo Irirangi o Ngāti Kahungunu/ Radio Kahungunu, up to $29,663
Te Reo Irirangi o Ngāti Porou/Radio Ngāti Porou, up to $30,000
BayBuzz, up to $19,500
Non-Fiction
Cyclone Response, 4 x 6 mins, Monsoon Pictures International for NZ Herald, up to $138,140
Maranga Rise Up Aotearoa, 1 x 420 mins, Whakaata Māori for Whakaata Māori, up to $250,00
Scripted
Miles From Nowhere (Additional), 6 x 22 mins, Gibson Group for Prime, up to $95,000
Ka Whawhai Tonu – Struggle Without End (Additional), 1 x 90 mins, Akeake for Māori Television, up to $51,000
Friends Like Her (Additional), 6 x 44 mins, Great Southern Television for Three, up to $431,958
Untitled Robert Sarkies Project (Additional), 1 x 100 mins, Pop Film for Three, up to $200,000
Music
New Music Development - up to $6,000
Abby Wolfe
Carly Gill, Lola Stoodley
Chaii, Frank Keys
Dave Baxter
Dave Khan, Reb fountain
David Atai
Devin Abrams
Eddie Johnston
Edy & Christian Tjandrawinata
Emily Wheatcroft-Snape
Josh Fountain
Josh Naley
Ladyhawke
Maree Sheehan
Mazbou Q
Noema te Hau III
Shannon Matthew Vanya Fowler, Tom lark
Tomi Banx
New Music Kids - up to $10,000
Deano Yipadee, Dusty the Digger, Yipadee Entertainments
Fun & Funner, The Same But Different, Karen O’Leary
Jackie B and the Mini Band, Spooky Hollywood, Jackie Bristow
Jeremy Redmore, Sing Along, Redmore Books
Loopytunes Preschool Music, Kowhai – Korero Mai, Loopy Tunes Preschool Music
Levity Beet, Let’s Celebrate Together!, Levity Beet (Nicholas Anton Hollis)
Marshmellow, Marshmellow Elephants, Marshmellow Music
Miss Nicky Says, Kanikani, Miss Nicky Says
Mr Roberelli, I’m On My Bicycle, Mr Roberelli
The Kars, The Kars II, Hokozoo Productions
New Music Projects
Erny Belle, Flying Nun Records, up to $30,000
Georgia Lines, Commotion, up to $40,000
Julia Deans, Julia Deans, up to $40,000
Luca George, Homespun, up to $40,000
Melodownz, Higher Ground, up to $40,000
Park Rd, Loop Media NZ, up to $30,000
Reb Fountain, Triple M Management, up to $40,000
Sachi, Higher Ground, up to $40,000
Scribe, World Music Group, up to $40,000
Shapeshifter, Shapeshifter NZ, up to $40,000
Shihad, Warner Music New Zealand, up to $40,000
Soaked Oats, The Label NZ, up to $30,000
Sons of Zion, CO2, up to $30,000
Toi, NicNak Media, up to $40,000
Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, up to $40,000
New Music Single - up to $10,000
Abby Christo, Note to Self
Alisa Xayalith, Devil I Know
Blake, Breakdown Breakthrough
Carb on Carb, Grounded
Coast Arcade, Grounded
Coridian, State of Mind
Corrella, Tonight
David Dallas, All Gas
Deepstate, Now That You’re Gone
Dick Move, Wet
Ebony Lamb, Drive Me Around
Elipsa X Tali, Divine
Erny Belle, Stay Golden
Flamingo Pier, Beneath the Neon
Gin Wigmore, Someone’s Gonna Die Tonight
Guardian Singles, Pit Viper
Half Hexagon, Pit Viper
Hans, Warmer Feat. Hanbee
Jinz, Ballin’
Jolyon Petch, Million Pieces
Jordyn With a Why, Mohi, Choicevaughan, Set…Go
Judah Kelly, When I’m Not There
Juno Is, The Highway Song
Kylie Price, In The Crowd
Luca George, Blue Again
Morse Gang, Blame It on Us
Naram & Tippa Lee, Regge a Mi Girl
Park Rd, Ride
Proteins of Magic, Flesh It Out
Rizván, Tuaikaepau (Slowly But Surely)
YahYah, Sad Girl
Waiata Takitahi - up to $14,000
Chad Chambers, Kei Pohehe
Corrella, Ko Au
Geneva Alexander-Marsters, Iho
Ia, Me
Jol, Whakatata Mai Rā Ki Tō Whānau
Jordyn With a Why, Hey Love
Majic, Tāmaki Herenga Waka
Mohi, Me Pēhea Rā’
Nikau Grace, Toku Tuakiri
Stan Walker, Aotearoa Xmas
Swizl Jager, Hinaki
Te Kuru, Don’t Rush
Tini Whetū, Tū Mai Rā
YahYah, I Like You
IDF
Doc Edge Awards 2023, Documentary New Zealand Trust, up to $15,000
NZ Television Awards 2023, J & A Productions, up to $60,000
Student Radio Awards 2023, Naked PR, up to $20,000
Doc Edge Forum 2023, Documentary New Zealand Trust, up to $15,000
Māoriland Film Festival 2023, Māoriland Charitable Trust, up to $20,000
NZ Game Developers Conference 2023, NZ Game Developers Association, up to $20,000
NZ Web Fest 2023, NZ Web Fest, up to $10,000
Doc Edge Clinics 2023, Documentary New Zealand Trust, up to $10,000
Doc Edge Pitch 2023, Documentary New Zealand Trust, up to $10,000
Soundcheck Aotearoa 2023, Recordedmusic.co.nz, up to $50,000
Tahuna Screenwriter Residency 2023, Great Southern Television, up to $20,000
Yami Sounz Summit 2023, Lake Wanaka Sounz, up to $6,000