Note: Funding marked with an asterisk (*) is for content intended for broadcast on TVNZ or RNZ. Assuming the legislation establishing the new ANZPM passes, NZ On Air funding would end at 30 June 2023. This means these funding amounts may be subject to change. (Funding of $1m or less is unaffected in this round for timing reasons).
Scripted
Miles From Nowhere, 6 x 22.5 mins, Gibson Group for Prime, up to $1,900,000. A darkly inventive new series that tells the story of a young Muslim songwriter who forms an unexpected friendship with the SIS agent monitoring him.
*Kid Sister 2, 5 x 22 mins, Greenstone TV for TVNZ+ and TVNZ 2, up to $1,273,486. Now Lulu and Ollie are together and out in the open, can their relationship withstand the realities of their differences?
Kairākau 3, 6 x 26 mins, Velvet Stone Media for Whakaata Māori, up to $540,000. Now in its third season, Kairākau is a drama series set in pre-colonial Aotearoa that highlights the struggles, relationships, and ultimately, revenge between warring tribes.
Someday Stories 7, 6 x 10 mins, Connected Media Charitable Trust for RNZ, up to $280,000. The youth-focused development initiative Somedays Stories 7 will continue to nurture a new generation of filmmakers in 2023.
I Got You 2, 8 x 5 mins, Cadness Street for RNZ, up to $270,000. Despite her lack of relationship experience, Mac is back to continue helping others find love in the second season of I Got You.
Mysterious Ways, 1 x 90 mins, Sunpix for TP+, up to $100,000. When a media storm threatens the marriage between a gay vicar and his boyfriend, God intervenes in the new feature film Mysterious Ways.
Factual
New
Four Go Flatting, 5 x 44 mins, Attitude Pictures for TVNZ 2, up to $586,770. An observational documentary series that follows four diverse young adults who have an intellectual disability and gives them a real-life temporary experience of flatting.
West Coasters, 6 x 26 mins, Fire Fire for Whakaata Māori, up to $438,580. An observational series for Whakaata Māori, West Coasters chronicles the triumphs and challenges of Māōri who are keeping the home fires burning in the most remote, most beautiful place, in Aotearoa.
TransGenerations, 8 x 10 mins, Trajectory Media for NZ Herald, up to $361,121. A documentary series that tells the stories of several high-profile trans rights activists and shines a light on the experiences of transgender New Zealanders.
Queer Academy, 5 x 10 mins, Re: for Re:, up to $246,891. A documentary series, hosted by queer comedian James Mustapic, that explores the value of the LGBTTQIA+ experience and everything that’s good about being queer.
Farewell Guangdong, 6 x 15 mins, Tawera Productions for RNZ, up to $238,230. A series based on the book Farewell Guangdong by Lily Lee which details the experiences of Lee’s family, and many others, escaping war in China and dealing with cultural diversity in present-day New Zealand.
Sidelines with the Sugas, 12 x 12 mins, Tikilounge Productions for Coconet.TV, up to $206,265. A unique series that delves into the behind-the-scenes realities for Pacific athletes, from sportswomen mothers with full-time jobs to young aspiring Pasifika punching above their weight.
This is Wheel Life with Sophia & Indy, 12 x 8 mins, Boxed Media for RNZ, up to $199,490. A raw, authentic and comedic series that documents the lives of two young women – Sophia and Indy – one living with quadriplegia and the other her carer.
Returning
*Attitude 2023, 20 x 23 mins + 10 x 23 mins reversioned, Attitude Pictures for TVNZ 1, up to $1,675,050*. A series of empowering stories reflecting the lives of some of the 1.1 million people in Aotearoa who live with disability or chronic ill health.
*Fresh 2023, 35 x 23 mins, Tikilounge Productions for TVNZ 2, up to $1,807,990*. A magazine/reality series for Māori and Pasifika rangatahi, engaging them across linear and digital platforms.
Unbreakable 3, 6 x 44 mins, Storymaker for TVNZ 1, up to $727,870. A six-part observational documentary series which follows 10 contributors with disabilities and focuses on their hurdles, dreams and successes.
Soul Sessions 3, up to 10 x 25 mins, ECG Media for TP+, up to $435,444. A series that celebrates Aotearoa gospel music which includes special episodes for Christmas, New Year’s and Matariki.
Youth Wings 2, 5 x 10 mins + 1 x 30 mins, Hexwork Productions for The Spinoff, up to $276,059. A documentary series that follows the youth branches of our political parties, big and small, as they start their engines for the 2023 election.
Still Here 2, 4 x 15 mins, Four and Five Films for Re:, up to $228,107. A docu-series profiling millennials from Pasifika families still living in Auckland’s affluent inner-city suburbs, namely Grey Lynn, Herne Bay, Westmere and Ponsonby.
Rural Delivery 2023, 10 x 23 mins, Showdown Productions Limited for TVNZ 1, up to $161,642. A series looking at the science of farming with stories that focus on new farming technologies and practices.
The Nutters Club, 48 x 90 mins, The Key to Life Charitable Trust for Newstalk ZB, up to $85,460. A radio interview series designed to change the way people think, feel, talk and behave in relation to our mental, physical, spiritual, emotional, culture, sexual health and wellbeing.
Real Life with John Cowan 2023, 48 x 22 mins, Christian Broadcasting Association for Newstalk ZB, up to $37,964. Weekly nationwide chat show series that reflects the diverse religious and ethical beliefs of New Zealanders, featuring a different high-profile guest each week.
Christmas 2022, 18 x 51 mins, Christian Broadcasting Association for Newstalk ZB, up to $36,896. A mix of live and pre-recorded features, interviews, vignettes, music, audience participation and guests for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day radio content.
Easter 2023, 12 x 54 mins, Christian Broadcasting Association for Newstalk ZB, up to $31,522. An Easter-focused range of radio content with commentary, interviews, talk back, creative production and guests from around NZ.
Children's
Kea Kids News 4, Luke Nola, 132 x 4 mins for NZME – NZ Herald online, 33 x 20 mins for Prime, 624 x 1.5 mins for TikTok, 132 x 4 mins for YouTube, and 208 x 1 mins for Nickelodeon / Cartoon Network, up to $1,141,544. Kea Kids News will continue to keep our youngest citizens informed about all the issues that matter most to them in 2023.
*Brain Busters 2023, 160 x 25 mins, Whitebait Media for TVNZ 2, up to $1,979,964. Kiwis compete in a series of increasingly tricky challenges involving maths, memory, spelling and more - working towards the ultimate test of smarts and stamina, the Brain Buster!
*What Now 2023, Whitebait Media for TVNZ 2. Funding and duration to be confirmed. What Now is back with more gunge, foam, games and fun than ever!
*Toi Time! 2, 20 x 29 mins, Rogue Productions for TVNZ 2, up to $1,152,088. Join Tama, Māia, JoJo and guests including Aunty Anika (Anika Moa) as they dance, sing and have fun around their whare in this fun and educational new series!
Bird’s Eye View 2, 10 x 5 mins, Sweetshop and Green for TVNZ+, TVNZ 2, RNZ and Whakaata Māori, up to $731,305. Bird’s Eye View returns with more feather-brained perspectives and misguided theories about the true weirdos of the animal kingdom – humans!
Fresh Fairytales 2, Tikilounge Productions 5 x 15 mins Scripted + 5 x 2 mins for TVNZ+, TVNZ 2, Coconet TV, and YouTube, 30 x 1 mins for TikTok, for, and TikTok, up to $697,000. Classic fairytales will be given a musical Island twist in the second season of Fresh Fairytales.
Kiri and Lou 4, 10 x 5 mins, Kiri and Lou for Prime, TVNZ 2, TVNZ+ and YouTube, up to $499,999. Following the adventures of two fanciful creatures in the primeval forest of Aotearoa, this award-winning claymation series is back to teach kids more important life lessons.
KPA – Battle Squad, 8 x 20 mins, Greenstone TV for TVNZ and TVNZ+, up to $489,603. A spin-off from the popular TVNZ+ K-Pop Academy series, KPA – Battle Squad follows the next generation of wannabe squad dancers as they compete across a mash-up of street dance genres.
Moe and Michal, 8 x 20 mins, Pop Up Workshop for YouTube and Prime, up to $319,200. YouTube creators Michal Bush (Music With Michal) and Dave Martin (Busy Beavers) will team up with Pop Up Workshop’s Jeremy Dillon to create a wealth of new Moe and Michal crossover content.
Speak Māori for Kids 2, 150 x 4 mins, Adrenalin for YouTube, the Speak Māori For Kids website, and Māori Language.net, up to $567,820. Learn to speak Māori with the help of Ārai, Tairua, their whānau and friends.
Suzy and Friends 2023, 53 x 45 mins, Treehut for 26 regional radio stations, up to $136,000. A weekend radio programme for New Zealand children and their parents.
The Poo Files 2, 20 x 2 mins, Rude Girl Productions for TVNZ+, TVNZ 2 and Rova, up to $267,730. Zoo-ology meets poo-ology, in this bizarre and hilariously fascinating investigation of animal poos and the creatures that make them!
What Will I Be Today?, 9 x 5 mins, POW Studios for TVNZ+ and RNZ, up to $500,000. A series where the characters daydream, imagining themselves to be heroes and adventurers on an important mission.
Games
Comic Creation Kit, Spookysoft Games for HEIHEI Games, up to $53,040. Comic Creation Kit allows players to create comic strips by mixing and matching characters, dialogue, and story elements.
It’s Kooky - Land of Aotearoa, Roshan Shaffeq Nowshad for HEIHEI Games, up to $39,380. It's Kooky – Land of Aotearoa is a hidden object video game set within the beautiful landscapes and historical regions of Aotearoa.
Kai Navigator, Mad Carnival for HEIHEI Games, up to $77,340. Kai Navigator will take kids around the world on a quest to discover and collect native fruits, vegetables and kaimoana for local kaitiaki in a race-the-clock scavenger hunt.
Māoringo, Teramon for HEIHEI Games, up to $8,052. Māoringo is a fun, dungeon-crawler game that teaches players basic te reo Māori.
The Hua Company, Thousand Tonic for HEIHEI Games, up to $59,500. From the creators of Kune Kune Shopkeeper comes The Hua Company, an exciting new local farm management simulation game.
Public Interest Journalism
Projects
Haukāinga 2022/23, Te Reo Irirangi O Te Hiku O Te Ika, up to $460,000. To produce an additional 12-month season of the video news series, produced by and for Northlanders on Te Hiku platforms, with Whakaata Māori and Iwi radio as content partners.
Mata Media, Aotearoa Media Collective, up to $452,198. A new and cutting-edge Māori current affairs project that will provide a suite of multimedia content designed for a digital-first audience, for TVNZ digital platforms and RNZ.
Video Kickstart, The Big Idea, up to $181,800. A series of 26 videos covering topical arts news and investigations, prioritising the viewpoints of diverse, regional and underserved communities, including Māori, Pasifika, Pan-Asian, youth, LGBTQIA+ and disabled perspectives.
The Hui: Summer Edition Series 2, Great Southern Television Ltd, up to $187,114. A second series of The Hui: Summer Edition which will produce six current affairs stories from a Māori perspective while providing mentorship and training to four young Māori journalists.
The Business of Health, BusinessDesk, up to $85,255. This project will investigate the involvement and efficacy of the companies and agencies involved in healthcare spending across Aotearoa, through a series of 50-70 articles.
Who Owns Auckland? Metro Media Group Limited, up to $30,460. An investigative series of long-form feature articles that examine multiple aspects of commercial property development in Tāmaki Makaurau.
Community Oriented Programmes, Indo Kiwi United Trust, up to $169,440. A weekly series of 48 videos covering the topics of health, social issues, parenting and elder care, for Punjabi and Sikh audiences.
Te Reo Māori Project, Kiwi Kids News, up to $46,706. A 12-month project which will produce two weekly news articles written in te reo Māori and accompanied by an English translation and an audio file of the reo text, for a tamariki audience aged 8-13.
Tova O'Brien Special, Mediaworks, up to $50,000. A range of audio and video packages, including a one-on-one interview with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, that cover the ongoing impacts of the Ukraine war on Aotearoa and New Zealanders within Ukraine and at home.
Industry Development Funding
Te Ia Ka Oho, Te Korimako o Taranaki, up to $395,000. A nine-month local journalism cadetship programme to nurture five Māori journalists with the aim of growing the Māori journalism sector more broadly, especially in the Taranaki region.
Disability: Our Voices, Attitude Pictures, up to $142,520. To extend the training of one existing PIJF-funded intern who lives with a disability and provide coaching for a second intern also living with a disability.
Agri-Journalists Mentorship, Global HQ, up to $25,000. A 12-month mentorship for two tertiary students to learn about agricultural journalism and produce youth-focused content about primary industries for Global HQ publications.
Chinese Journalism Cadetship Programme, Go Global Ltd, $137,280. A 12-month training programme, with in-house and external modules, for two cadets from Chinese backgrounds to increase the quality and quantity of trusted news content for Chinese audiences.
Cadetships for Central students, Inland App Company, up to $7,800. A 12-month programme to engage and encourage high school students in the Central Otago district to experience journalism as a career option and produce weekly content.
The Next Page – Editors, The Spinoff, up to $201,036. A 10-month cross-platform initiative to support the development and upskilling of journalism editors across Aotearoa. Led by The Spinoff, partner publications include North & South, Metro, NZ Geographic, E-Tangata, The Pantograph Punch and Ensemble.
Content Roles
A contributing Editor/Presenter and a Video Journalist for two years, for Hawke’s Bay App, up to $388,700. To conduct interviews, write stories and offer editorial oversight, and to increase the quantity and quality of video news.
A Community Reporter for one year, for Consumer NZ Incorporated, up to $85,600. To cover consumer news with a focus on non-Pākehā and economically marginalised groups.
A Reporter for one year, for Migrant News, up to $55,854. To produce news content specifically for and about migrant communities and Filipino audiences.
A Digital Content Designer and a Digital Producer for one year, for Radio Ngāti Porou Charitable Trust, up to $128,784. To create audio-visual online content from Radio Ngāti Porou daily radio content and share it across various digital and social platforms.
A Local Democracy Journalist for two years, for Inland App Company, up to $101,400. To continue local democracy reporting across Central Otago, with increased hours.
A Pasifika Affairs Correspondent for two years, for Warner Bros Discovery NZ, up to $248,240. To report on Pasifika issues for Discovery NZ’s news organisations, including Newshub.
Targeted Roles
A Digital Graphic Designer and an Audience Engagement Expert for one year, for Indian Newslink, up to $186,992. To improve the design of the news site and add graphics to print and online stories, and to connect with new and younger audiences over social media channels.
A Chief of Staff and a Newsreader for one year, for The National Pacific Radio Trust, up to $207,461. To provide coordination, sub-editing and organisational leadership in the newsroom, and to provide specialist news reading services.
A part-time Sub-Editor for one year, for Metro Media Group Ltd, up to $20,316. To increase the magazine’s overall capacity to produce quality journalism.
Platform
(Capital fund)
Radio Control 99.4FM, Radio Massey, up to $5,850
95bFM, Campus Radio bFM, up to $14,381
Music
New Music Development - up to $6,000
Woodcut Production
Abraham Kunin
Brooke Singer
Carly Gill, Jess Penson
Christian Tjandrawinata
Dave Khan
Edy & Astro
Elena Siljic
Joe Faris
Joel Jones
Josh Edmonds
Mazbou Q
Samuel Scott
Sophie Bialostocki
Steven Marr
The Response
Tiki Taane
New Music Project - Kids - up to $10,000
Chris Lam Sam, Silly Funny Action Songs for Kids!
Em & Me, 1-2-3 Dis-Go!
Huia, The Good Monster
Itty Bitty Beats & Claudia Gunn, Sunshine & Kindness
Jackie B & the Mini Band, Summertime
Jayav, Aotearoa Sun
Judi Cranston, Wave Your Scarf
Levity Beet, Levity Beet & Friends LP
Little Lips, Little Lips LP
Loopy Tunes Music, Pohutukawa Christmas Song EP
Miss Nicky Says, Because I’m Māori LP
Suzy Cato & Kath Bee, I Can Do It!
New Music Projects
Arjuna Oakes, Square Sums & Co, up to $40,000
Coterie, Massive Records, up to $30,000
Grayson Gilmour, Flying Nun Records, up to $27,240
Kaylee Bell, Trigger Marketing, up to $20,000
L.A.B., LOOP Media NZ, up to $40,000
LEISURE, Goldie Management, up to $40,000
Lani Alo, Precise Digital, up to $20,000
LOU’ANA, NicNak Media, up to $26,496
Nathan Haines, Zoot Music, up to $30,000
Play It Strange Trust, Play It Strange Trust, up to $40,000
Rhian Sheehan & Arli Liberman, LOOP Media NZ, up to $40,000
The Chills, Southbound Distribution, up to $40,000
New Music Single - up to $10,000
0800, Vapour
10:32, Coffee Shop Girl
Abby Christo, Slow Down Girl
Amamelia, C’est Chic
Ashy, L.A. Talk
Avya, You Don’t Get It
B O K E H, Encore
Corrella NZ, Skanking
Coterie, West Coast Drive*
Dbldbl, Hot Cakes
Dick Move, Small Man Big Tweet
Ebony Lamb, Take My Hands at Night
Edy X Hales, In My Head
Elliott Dawson, Truman
Erny Belle, Island Time
Ethan Jupe, Maurice & Fynn, The One
Hayley Westenra, Don’t Say You’re Sad
Ingrid and the Ministers, Porcelain God
K M T P, First Date
Lawrence Arabia, The Developed World
Masaya, Black Sheep
Mazbou Q, Lucky All Day Feat. Xj-Will
Mild Orange, Right or Wrong
Mohi, Moments
Neive Strang, Living in Two
Nganeko, Change
O & the Mo, Make Way for the Sun
Razé, Blush
Robinson, Teenage Renegade
Rubi Du, Brown Skin
Soft Plastics, Disembody
TK Paradza, Energy Feat. Raiza Biza
Valkyrie, Lights Go Down
Villainy, The Launch
Zanderr Pierre, You Don’t Feel
Zoe Moon, Casual
Music With Michal, TBC
Aidan Fine, Sunday Morning
Ashy, Do Not Disturb
Bailey Wiley, Baby Mama
Ballot Box, Carpet Stain
Ben Woods, Chimes
Big Sima, Growth
Brandn Shiraz & Diggy Dupe, Outside Outside
Bridges, Misfits
Cellarr, Freak Out
Chores, Feel the High Feat. Ashy
Coast Arcade, Highest Heights
Dallas James, Demons & Angels
Dual, Lights Go Out
Estère, Oh Well
Haz & Miloux, March 12
Hi-Nes, Are You Here?
Israel Starr, Spiritual Healing Feat. Lomez Brown & Natural Roots Ban
Jack Panther, Weekend at Bernies
Jujulipps, Airplane Mode
La Felix, Good Times
Lauren Gin, Flight Feat. Reshma Martin
Louisa Nicklin, No Good
Mareko, What Are They Saying Feat. Inf
Miakie, Flicker
Mikey Dam, The Eagles
Osqar, Don’t Leave
Ray Leslie, Dog Days
Reb Fountain, Faithless Lover
Shapeshifter, Crystal Eyes
Swiss Feat. Poetik, Everything on Me
Vallé, Hold Me
Volts, When You Go
Who Shot Scott, Demons
Yahyah, Go
Grace Lawrence, Differently Now
Industry Development
Waiata Māori Music Awards 2022, Waiata Māori Awards Charitable Trust, up to $20,000
Songhubs 2023, APRA AMCOS NZ, up to $25,000
Reo Māori Songhubs 2022, APRA AMCOS NZ, up to $15,000
Going Global Music Summit 2022, Independent Music NZ, up to $2,000
Eq (Equaliser), Recordedmusic.co.nz, up to $10,000