SPADA – a recap
Last week, the industry gathered at SPADA in Wellington to foster collaboration, share insights, and set the stage for the upcoming year. The event featured two key sessions involving NZ On Air that exemplified our shared commitment to shaping the future of the screen sector.
During our agency keynote, we presented an update on the progress of our new investment strategy, five months post-implementation. The presentation, available on our website, outlined our strategic focus for the upcoming year and addressed pressing industry pātai.
Key announcements and updates covered included:
Mahi Tahi
The Mahi Tahi session brought together CEOs Annie Murray from Te Tumu Whakaata Taonga| New Zealand Film Commission, Larry Parr from Te Māngai Pāho, and our own Cameron Harland. They shared a unified vision for a more collaborative approach within the industry, fostering an environment of shared ideas and joint initiatives.
Shared research and data to inform funding decisions and industry support
- Confirmed a desire for a more coordinated approach to the collection of industry data for the benefit of all and especially for workforce development and wellbeing.
- Confirmed a commitment to collaborating on research and insights as a means to measure impact as well as outputs.
Co-Fund with Te Māngai Pāho confirmed ongoing
- Confirmed for 2024/25 in Round Rua and in future years.
- $4M pūtea committed each year by each agency - $8M total.
- Key area of focus to be encouraging high-end scripted Māori content intending to access the Screen Production Rebate.
The full presentation we gave at SPADA can be found on our website here. However we want to highlight the information we shared on how we are allocating the one-off additional $10m allocation in this financial year, and how we are going with the NZ Screen Production Rebate.
One-off $10m allocations in FY23-24
To recap, this is what we were directed to achieve with the additional pūtea:
“The funds will support creation of innovative content.
It will be used to deliver trusted public media news, information a 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).”
And this is how we are allocating:
- $5M earmarked for youth projects – detailed guidelines available on our website.
- $2M dedicated to Aotearoa New Zealand Pacific Regional Media Fund – Expressions of Interest invited. More details and further clarification below.
- $2M allocated to support Māori-owned production companies. This initiative will not follow a separate fund or Request for Proposals (RFP) process but will be integrated into our funding rounds, with an increased focus on Māori-owned projects. We will report on this at the end of the financial year.
- $1M dedicated to new music initiatives – details on supported initiatives to follow.
NZ Screen Production Rebate (SPR) opportunities
Update on provisional pūtea invested in supporting SPR projects to secure their full finance packages.
- Four children’s projects allocated $7.7M from a $30.9M total budget with a deadline in January 2024 to secure meaningful market attachment.
- Four drama projects allocated $10.4M from a $36M total budget with a deadline in March 2024 to secure meaningful market attachment.
- Producers are invited to register interest in a post-March 2024 wānanga to discuss the effectiveness of the approach, lessons learned, and potential changes for FY 2024-25. Limited spots available, with priority given to producers experienced in engaging with the rebate. Register via funding@nzonair.govt.nz
Aotearoa New Zealand Pacific Regional Media Fund
Last week we announced a $1.9m fund to encourage the creation of stories from a uniquely Pasifika perspective, to be broadcast in Aotearoa New Zealand and throughout the Pacific region. We opened a call for 5-minute video pitches.
We want to clarify that the video pitch is NOT about your content idea but about YOU.
We would like interested NZ based Pasifika producers to submit a 5-minute video pitch outlining:
- Who are you? As well as the Pacific based producer/broadcaster you would like to work with (you do not have to confirm this prior to responding to the EOI as there will be an opportunity to meet potential production partners).
- What attracts you to this initiative?
- What do you expect to learn from this experience?
- Who is the audience you want to engage with?
- Previous production credits.
Annual Report 2022/23
Each year we are required to report to Parliament on our performance. The 2022/23 report has now been published. You can read it here.
We thank our partner agencies, our funded content creators, and platforms for everything that you do to help us serve the audiences of Aotearoa New Zealand. The stories and songs created in the past year have once again demonstrated the power of local content in connecting a nation.