Round Tahi Information for Applicants
The Information for Applicants for our first funding round for the 2026/27 Financial Year, Round Tahi, is now available on our website.
In Round Tahi we will accept applications across the following range of target audiences and content genres: Drama, Comedy, Documentary and General Factual, Children, Youth, Journalism, Podcasts, Content Development, Capability and Discoverability.
Allocations for this round are:
Non-fiction
Approximately $9m for Non-fiction projects.
We will accept Non-fiction applications for screen content, with priority given to broad-reach general factual series that feature compelling public media themes. This includes documentaries, podcasts, national event coverage, comedy panel shows, unscripted comedy shows, reality shows and partial financing of feature films supported by the New Zealand Film Commission (NZFC).
Journalism
In this round, we will accept applications into the ‘reporting on public institutions’ category of Journalism funding.
Please refer to our Round Tahi 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 well-developed projects intending to access the New Zealand Screen Production Rebate (NZSPR). Drama, comedy and partial financing of feature films supported by NZFC are all eligible.
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
Approximately $4m 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 seeking up to $2.5m.
Rangatahi
Approximately $1m for Rangatahi content.
We welcome applications for bold and innovative local content that will reach rangatahi audiences (15 – 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 Tahi Information for Funding Applicants to find out more.
Development and Capability
We are taking the opportunity to refresh 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 will be working alongside NZFC and Te Māngai Pāho as part of this and will keep the sector informed as this work progresses.
The Round Tahi Information for Funding Applicants is now available here on our website.
Timeline
Applicant information webinar: Thursday 16 April from 3-4pm on Zoom.
- To register, see below.
Applications Open: Thursday 30 April
- All applications must be made through our NZ On Air Portal. Only applications submitted through this portal will be accepted.
Applications Close: Thursday 21 May, 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 31 July
- This date may be extended at NZ On Air’s sole discretion.
Webinar
Tomorrow, Thursday 16 April from 3-4pm, we will be hosting an Applicant Information webinar for Round Tahi 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 Tahi’ and we will forward you the Zoom link.