History of HEIHEI
In early 2016, as a result of significant research, planning and consultation, NZ On Air decided it was time our tamariki had a purpose-built home for local stories, games and songs.
We issued a call (Expressions Of Interest) for ideas to provide a fresh way to connect primary school-aged tamariki with a range of online New Zealand content made especially for them.
The result was an innovative collaboration between NZ On Air and TVNZ for a safe, ad-free online platform. Managed by TVNZ the site would feature a wide range of local shows, games, audio and music videos funded through NZ On Air's contestable fund.
And so HEIHEI – te reo Māori for commotion or chicken - was born!
On March 26 2018, NZ On Air and TVNZ launched HEIHEI as a free website, iOS app and Android app. The website featured newly-funded local content and a range of hand-picked international titles for primary-aged children.
HEIHEI was well received by Aotearoa's tamariki. In the space of just one year the website had over 773,000 visits by 226,000 unique users, the app had been downloaded 92,000 times and the average session duration was 40 minutes. Eight of the top 10 titles on the platform were local, proving New Zealand children wanted and loved local content.
As HEIHEI celebrated its first birthday, new endpoints including Chromecast and Smart TV apps, as well as new features like captions also became available, making local kids’ content more accessible for tamariki and their parents than ever before.
On May 12 2020, it was announced that the underlying software platform supporting HEIHEI would no longer be available, and so HEIHEI video content was moved to its new home on TVNZ OnDemand and HEIHEI Games moved to a new digital platform.
HEIHEI retained its autonomous brand on TVNZ OnDemand, with content served through a specifically branded, ad-free section. HEIHEI continues to be a safe place for young people to explore local content.
Meanwhile, HEIHEI Games continues to be available at HEIHEI.nz and via the HEIHEI app.
Resources for HEIHEI producers
On 2 February 2023 NZ On Air launched new tamariki brand assets to help young New Zealanders identify funded content.
This is in response to our recently updated children’s content funding framework – which actively seeks ways to be present in more places where children spend time consuming media. This includes local platforms, as well as YouTube Kids and other digital-first platforms.
Only children's content funded by NZ On Air prior to September 2022 should continue to use the existing HEIHEI logo assets below. If you received funding for your children's content after Septemeber 2022, please use the tamariki logo assets available here.
The purpose of the HEIHEI brand guide is to provide an understanding of the HEIHEI identity.
To preserve the identity of the brand, please adhere to all guidelines specified in this document.
If you have any further queries relating to this guide or the HEIHEI identity, please contact:
Below is the HEIHEI static logo pack to be used on HEIHEI content, promotional images and media releases.
Our preference is for all content creators to use the pink version of the logo, however a black version is available in the case of the pink logo clashing with the content.
Below are two HEIHEI/NZ On Air combined logo bugs to be used at the beginning of HEIHEI content.
Our preference is for all content creators to use the pink version of the bug, however a black version is available in the case of the pink bug clashing with the content.
The HEIHEI end resolve should be added to any piece of fully NZ On Air funded content made especially for HEIHEI, over 2 minutes long.
It can be cut in with the end of the of the content piece so that the colours swipe across the end frame and the sound blends seamlessly.
If you're unsure, or haven't applied the HEIHEI end resolve to your content in the past, we recommend editing it onto one piece of content and sending it to either:
HEIHEI manager summer.wharekawa@tvnz.co.nz
or NZ On Air Communications Advisor sophie@nzonair.govt.nz
for design/brand checks before proceeding with the rest.
This document includes an overview of HEIHEI social channels, HEIHEI brand guidelines / tone of voice, the preferred way of working for publicity and the deliverables to make your show shine on HEIHEI.
If you have any further queries relating to this guide please contact:
This document is a guide for game producers and developers creating games for the HEIHEI platform. It includes information on how to include NZ On Air accreditation in your game.
Research
The full Children's Media Research Report is available on NZ On Air's website here and on the BSA's website here.
You can read NZ On Air's media release here, and the BSA's media release here.
Adele Millin - presentation of the latest HEIHEI user research (00:00-21:10)
Kate Saunders - update on moving HEIHEI shows to TVNZ Ondemand (21:15-40:12)
Dan Milward - update on the development of the new HEIHEI games platform (40:15-48:20)
Anna Currie, Ngawaero Maniapoto - update on the next RFP for children’s content (48:35-57:00)
Q&A (57:09-1:31:35)