Round Rua Information for Applicants
The Information for Applicants for our second funding round for the 2026/27 Financial Year, Round Rua, is now available here on our website.
In Round Rua we will accept applications across the following range of priority audiences and content genres: Scripted, Non-fiction, Children, Youth, Content Development, Capability and Discoverability.
Allocations for this round are:
Non-fiction
Approximately $10m for Non-fiction projects.
We will accept Non-fiction applications for screen content, with priority given to broad-reach factual series with strong public media value, larger-scale productions with budgets above $500,000, projects that create significant employment opportunities and NZ Screen Production Rebate (NZSPR) productions seeking last-in funding. This includes documentaries, national event coverage, comedy formats and podcasts. Applications for reality shows will be accepted in this round, with priority given to local formats intending to access the NZSPR.
Journalism
We will accept applications to the ‘specialist current affairs and investigative projects’ strand of our journalism funding. These tend to be projects delivered as daily, weekly or occasional series delivering high volume at low cost-per-minute, are digital-first, have strong audience reach and meaningful platform contribution.
Please refer to our Round Rua Information for Funding Applicants for more detailed information.
Scripted
Approximately $8m for Scripted projects.
We will prioritise applications for larger-scale series projects seeking $1m-$3m in this round, and welcome drama and comedy series, larger-scale productions and NZSPR projects with strong financing and platform support.
Music/Sync Licensing
We welcome applications from Scripted projects that plan to incorporate at least 80 percent local music (both track licensing and composition) into their productions.
Tamariki/Children
Approximately $5m for Tamariki content.
We welcome applications for Scripted and Non-fiction children's projects into this round, however we will not be accepting applications for games. Applications will ideally be tailored for multiple platforms, with well-defined strategies for engaging the target audience.
We also welcome production-ready NZSPR projects for tamariki that require ‘last-in’ funding.
Rangatahi/Youth
Approximately $1m for Rangatahi content.
We welcome applications for bold and innovative local content that will reach rangatahi audiences (15 to 24-year-olds). While we encourage local platform support, projects will ideally have a multi-platform distribution strategy.
Rangatahi projects may have YouTube as a primary platform but will need to meet additional criteria to replace the role that a commissioning platform typically plays. Please read the Round Rua Information for Funding Applicants to find out more.
Development and Capability
We are continuing to work on refreshing our approach to Capability and Discoverability funding and align with the Government’s Amplify strategy for the cultural sector, which prioritises coordinated, high-impact investment in sector capability and discoverability. This may mean some rationalisation of how we fund industry events and capability-building activity, and some projects we have previously supported may no longer sit within scope. We are continuing to work alongside NZFC and Te Māngai Pāho as part of this and will keep the sector informed as this work progresses.
The Round Rua Information for Funding Applicants is now available here on our website.
Timeline
Applicant information webinar: Thursday 13 August from 3-4pm on Zoom.
- To register, see below.
Applications open: Thursday 20 August
- All applications must be made through our NZ On Air Portal. Only applications submitted through this portal will be accepted.
Applications close: Thursday 10 September, 4pm
- Late applications will not be considered. In very exceptional circumstances, we may consider an out-of-time application for time-sensitive projects agreed prior by the Head of Funding or the Associate Head of Funding.
Decisions confirmed, applicants notified: Friday 20 November
- This date may be extended at NZ On Air’s sole discretion.
Webinar
Tomorrow, Thursday 13 August from 3-4pm, we will be hosting an Applicant Information webinar for Round Rua on Zoom, where you can hear from the NZ On Air Funding team and ask any questions you might have. Email funding@nzonair.govt.nz to register, with the subject line ‘Applicant Information webinar Round Rua’ and we will forward you the Zoom link.
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