A farewell from the Chair
Dr Ruth Harley
Tēnā koutou katoa
It has been an absolute privilege to have the opportunity to chair the board of Irirangi Te Motu | NZ On Air for past six years. It was the most extraordinary good fortune that enabled me to come back into the fold after an absence of nearly 30 years.
The last six years have been a roller coaster: from the influx of Covid-related funds for high-end drama and documentary productions as well as the Public Interest Journalism Fund, to the near extinction of NZ On Air in the ANZPM merger scenario, and back again to full strength when the merger didn't proceed.
Since then, there have been two game-changing opportunities for the screen sector with the opening up of the Screen Production Rebate to co-financing with NZ On Air and the new Game Development Sector Rebate. I have had my heart set on the opening up of the SPR for a decade. At last NZ producers have the opportunity to tell our stories at an internationally competitive scale. The success of After The Party has shown the way.
I have always cherished the dream that NZ content would be the most popular content in Aotearoa. The media turmoil in recent months has made this dream seem further away than ever before. Still, I hold onto the dream and I know that you will all - sector and agencies- play your part in leading us towards it.
My thanks to Cameron and all the staff as well as my fellow board members, whose commitment made my role achievable. And, most of all, I pay tribute to all the creators of the songs and stories that express our identities. You, and the audiences, are the people we serve and I am deeply grateful to have been able to make a contribution.
I look forward to seeing the work continue and grow under the chairmanship of Andrew Caisley. Haere mai Andrew. Your long-standing commitment to the cultural sector will be invaluable.
Arohanui,
Ruth
A note from the CEO
I'm starting today's newsletter with a look back on six years of knowledgeable, kind leadership by our now former Chair Dr Ruth Harley. I joined this organisation four years ago, in part because I wanted to work with Ruth. She is an extraordinary person, with an enormous wealth of knowledge about the media sector and an empowering style of leadership. I speak for all of our staff and fellow board members when I say that we are very grateful for Ruth's service.
Ruth's final meeting as Chair was last week, and it was a big meeting. You’ll see below all of the funding decisions made. While we are always guided by our investment goals and principles articulated in our Investment Strategy, the audience outcomes outlined in our legislation, and a commitment to seeing content that reflects New Zealand, the funding decisions don’t get any easier. Unfortunately our funds can go only so far, and with inflationary pressures and increasing financial constraint on local platforms, we are seeing applications for projects that previously would have been commercially funded. We are consistently impressed by and grateful to the creatives who submit applications and whilst we are delighted with the breadth of content funded, there are many other projects we would have loved to support.
We are always thrilled to see audiences and critics respond positively to new content. Our congratulations go to the creators, cast and crew of Madam (currently screening on ThreeNow and Three) who recently won Best Comedy at the Berlin TV Series Festival to add to their Golden Nymph award for Best Creation at the Monte Carlo TV Festival. And importantly, local audiences have been enjoying it!
Finally, I welcome the appointment of Andrew Caisley as our new Chair and look forward to delivering on our new Statement of Intent under his leadership.
Ngā mihi nui,
Cam
Looking ahead
Our next funding round is the final one for this calendar year. Round Rua is a targeted and general audiences round.
Applications open: 22 August
Application deadline: 4pm, 12 September
Applicants informed: 22 November
Arts and Culture Podcast Co-Fund
Creative New Zealand, NZ On Air and RNZ have come together to support the development of new arts and culture podcasts through a new Arts and Culture Podcast Co-Fund.
The co-fund was developed in response to research called New Mirrors that shows a deficit in media coverage of arts and culture in Aotearoa and outlines ways to address that. In response, the three agencies came together to create a one-off fund to generate new arts media opportunities. The fund will support the development of up to four podcasts, with ideas that cater to audiences and artforms that are not well served by the current arts media.
NZ On Air believes that taking a cross-agency approach and combining resources will make the greatest impact at a time where there is a real scarcity of arts-focused stories - and ensure more of Aotearoa's distinct and unique arts and culture stories can be told.
An Expression of Interest (EOI) opened this week and will close on Friday 9 August. The application process will be managed by Creative New Zealand. For more details, check out the media release on our website or you can find the full details on the Creative New Zealand website.
Latest funding round
The first funding round of the new financial year, Round Tahi, was open for Scripted, Non-Fiction and Content Development applications. It also confirmed the successful Aotearoa New Zealand Pacific Regional Media Fund projects, annual operational funding for supported platforms and services, and Discoverability and Capability applications.
We had $26.5m available in this round, with a minimum of $10m earmarked for Scripted, $12m for Non-Fiction, $3.5m for Children's, $150k for Content Development and $800k for Discoverability and Capability initiatives.
We received 123 applications from 99 applicants requesting total funding of $89.7m.
Tom Sainsbury will star in a new Scripted series
More great new Scripted comedy and children's animation
Funding for Scripted content in this round was dominated by comedy and children's animation. Larger projects looking to access additional finance including the Screen Production Rebate (SPR), and projects focused on digital-first release were prioritised.
One of three comedies to be funded is Small Town Scandal, a series led by comedian Tom Sainsbury, who plays a disgraced journalist turned true-crime podcast host investigating the death of his millionaire uncle in a hometown filled with eccentric suspects. It will screen on Sky Open, Neon and Sky Go.
You can read more about funded Scripted projects here.
Shortland Street
You'll also have seen that we have provided a $3m injection to Shortland Street, alongside and subject to a successful SPR application. Funding for Shortland Street was based upon a compelling application showing strong audience outcomes including hard-to-reach youth, Māori, Pasifika and Pan-Asian audiences, a quality business case and high content output that is topical and reflective of New Zealand identity and culture.
Whilst the ambitious local daily hospital drama has been a commercial success for many years after initially receiving funding from NZ On Air, the challenging commercial environment meant that South Pacific Pictures and TVNZ sought funding assistance. You can read more about this decision here.
The inaugural Aotearoa New Zealand Pacific Regional Media Fund
Funding for uniquely Pasifika stories for audiences across the Pacific and Aotearoa
We were proud to announced six projects as the successful recipients of funding in the first-ever Aotearoa New Zealand Pacific Regional Media Fund that will create content for audiences across the Pacific and Aotearoa.
The one Scripted and five Non-Fiction projects are the culmination of an initiative that paired Aotearoa New Zealand-based Pasifika producers with Pacific-based producers and broadcasters, to create and produce content shot in the Pacific Islands and primarily in a Pacific Island language with English subtitles.
Proud Niuean and NZ On Air project lead for the initiative, Nicole Rex ,says it was difficult to choose just six from the very high calibre applications.
You can read more about the funded projects here.
Temuera Morrison
Non-Fiction content reflects life in Aotearoa New Zealand
Content that celebrates and explores many facets of life in Aotearoa New Zealand is among 19 new Non-Fiction projects funded in this round.
It includes a new series hosted by Temuera Morrison, funding for the first time for the informative Eat Well For Less, and other new and returning content to engage a range of audiences across many platforms.
Acting Co-Head of Funding, Kelly Davis says that due to the current media environment, Non-Fiction content in particular has been under a lot of pressure of late.
You can read more about the funded projects here.
Music update
We are just midway through the year but it has certainly been a busy one to date for the Music team.
We have made some changes to our music funding streams off the back of last year’s 2023 Music Funding Review. The aim of that review was to ensure our funding is effective in the changing music landscape. We have worked hard to find ways that we could further support artists and musicians to release quality music for audiences and support economic growth in the music sector. Here are the key changes.
Kaylee Bell, recent New Music project funding recipient
Funding changes
In June, we announced significant changes to the New Music Project Funding stream, starting from July 2024, that recognise the increased costs in recording and releasing music to audiences. These changes have been well received by the industry :
- The financial co-investment requirement has been removed
- The maximum funding amount has been increased to $50,000 plus the additional mandatory 10% Artist Creation Fee
- Funding will be paid as majority advances (final drawdown will be a re-imbursement).
Claudia Robin Gunn, recent New Music Project Kids funding recipient
In other changes, in March we launched New Music Project Kids, a new funding stream put in place in response to the 2023 Music Funding Review and feedback that indicated a need to ‘ensure that access is available to the New Music Project fund for children's artists’.
The new funding stream supports the production and promotion of new children’s music, associated visual content, and marketing and promotion, and is designed for New Zealand children’s music artists who have an established track record of audience, broadcast and online outcomes in Aotearoa. It is for multi-single projects generally targeting audiences under 12 years of age.
In the inaugural round, we received 11 applications and funded eight.
We have also made some changes to other Music funding at NZ On Air for the 2024/25 budget, including reducing our Focus rounds* to one each per year. This change was made to accommodate pressure on the available funds due to the increase in funding for all our New Music funding recipients with the mandatory 10% Artist Creation Fee now added on top of the grant, the increase in New Music Project funding and the introduction of New Music Project Kids funding.
*These Focus rounds are New Music Kids, New Music Pasifika, New Music Pan-Asian and Waiata Takitahi.
For the updated Music funding round dates up until 31 December 2024, go to our website for all the details.
Game Development Sector rebate update
At the end of June, we announced the recipients of the inaugural Year One general registration round of the Game Development Sector Rebate (GDSR) – with 32 studios receiving just over $12million.
This was after an initial Pilot Phase in late 2023 to finetune the admin process which distributed funds to a handful of studios. In total, that brings the amount of GDSR rebates to date to just under $22.3million.
The GDSR team is now working on refining the process even further and seeking feedback from the sector to gather insights and enhance our processes for future rounds. Studios that wish to discuss their application or have any questions, can take part in feedback discussions throughout July with the NZ On Air GDSR team. To arrange a call, email us at gamesrebate@nzonair.govt.nz.
New Programme Manager
Tobias Last (Tobi) joined us in June as the GDSR Programme Manager. Tobi is a seasoned veteran of the video games industry, originally from Germany. He will be working closely with GDSR Programme Director Chantelle Cole, the GDSR team at NZ On Air and sector partners to steer the strategic vision and administer the GDSR.
System improvements
We're currently working on some system improvements. The first of these is an updated and improved layout of our website to make finding the information you need easier. If you are asked to help complete a brief survey on using our website, we'd greatly appreciate your help with this.
The second is a replacement of our finance system which is past its use-by date. Alongside this, we are upgrading the application portal so that the two systems are integrated, and adding a new system for managing contacts and the ways we communicate with you. Please bear with us as we work through all of this, on top of our BAU. We are trying to minimise impacts on stakeholders and, at the same time, maximise the benefits of the new system. You'll hear more about this as we get closer to go-live.
Funding details
Scripted
Crackhead, 8 x 22’, Warner Bros. International Television Production NZ for viewing on ThreeNow and Three, up to $3,197,306.
Shortland Street, 138 x 22’, South Pacific Pictures for viewing on TVNZ+ and TVNZ 2, up to $3,000,000
Small Town Scandal, 8 x 22’, Little Miss Films for viewing on SkyGo, Sky Open and Neon, up to $2,964,455.
Ahikāroa 7, 20 x 26’, Kura Productions for viewing on MĀORI+, Whakaata Māori and TVNZ+, up to $1,440,000.
Warren’s Vortex, 6 x 23’, Kitchen Table Productions for viewing on TVNZ+ and TVNZ 2, up to $1,227,000.**
Katie’s Kurī, 6 x 8’, Sweetshop & Green NZ for viewing on Sky Open and SkyGo, up to $882,882.
Big Little Blue, 10 x 7’, The Down Low Concept for viewing on YouTube, RNZ and Whakaata Māori, up to $810,030.
Day One Shorts 2025, 8 x 10’, Connected Media Charitable Trust for viewing on YouTube, Whakaata Māori, MĀORI+, RNZ, TikTok, Facebook and Instagram, up to $405,000.
Moana 2 Reo Māori, 1 x 100’, Matewa Media for viewing on Disney+ and local platform TBC, up to $250,000.
Factual
New Zealand Tomorrow, 6 x 22’, Kevin and Co. for viewing on ThreeNow and Three, up to $999,870.
The Devil’s In The Data, 4 x 44’, Ruckus Media for viewing on TVNZ+ and TVNZ 1, up to $996,880.
Earth Oven With Temuera Morrison, 6 x 44’, Hi Mama for viewing on SkyGo and Sky Open, up to $800,000.
Stranded, 6 x 60’, NHNZ Worldwide for viewing on Sky Open and Whakaata Māori, up to $663,192.
Don’t, 3 x 44’, Greenstone TV for viewing on TVNZ+ and TVNZ 2, up to $648,675.
Once Were Gardeners, 8 x 26’, Black Iris for viewing on MĀORI+, Whakaata Māori and RNZ, up to $624,496.
All Access Driving School, 6 x 23’, Sweet Productions for viewing on SkyGo and Sky Open, up to $599,801.
Patua, 7 x 26’, NHNZ Worldwide for viewing on MĀORI+, Whakaata Māori and NZR+, up to $352,176.
Joy, Full And Final, 1 x 45’, Krafty for viewing on RNZ, YouTube, TikTok, Facebook and Instagram, up to $301,782.
Ka Mate, 1 x 90’, GFC Films for viewing on TVNZ+, up to $200,000.
Returning
What Now?, 120 x 8’, Whitebait Media for viewing on TVNZ+, TVNZ2 and YouTube Kids, up to $2,076,319.
Attitude 2025, 28 x 22’, Attitude Pictures for viewing on TVNZ+, TVNZ 1, Attitude Live and YouTube, up to $2,032,621.
Fresh 2025, 34 x 23’, Tikilounge Productions for viewing on TVNZ 2 and The CoconetTV, up to $1,895,631.
7 Days, 15 x 44’, Discovery NZ for viewing on ThreeNow and Three, up to $1,254,554.
Local Democracy Reporting 2025, RNZ for viewing on RNZ, Stuff, Whakaata Māori and NZME, up to $884,896.
Hyundai Country Calendar 2025, 40 x 22’, Television New Zealand for viewing on TVNZ+ and TVNZ 1, up to $726,545.
Kea Kids News 6, 80 x 4’, Luke Nola & Friends for viewing on NZ Herald, YouTube Kids, TikTok, Facebook and Instagram, up to $700,321.
Young Riders 5, 8 x 22’, Greenstone TV for viewing on YouTube Kids and local platform TBC, up to $588,928.
Eat Well For Less 5, 6 x 44’, Screentime NZ for viewing on TVNZ+ and TVNZ 1, up to $513,471.
Aotearoa New Zealand Pacific Regional Media Fund
A Dollar To Dream, 1 x30’, Cadness Street for viewing on TV3 Samoa, Pasifika TV and The CoconetTV, up to $310,000.
Children Of Niue (Working Title), 5 x 15’, Kingston Productions for viewing on Pasifika TV and BCN, up to $310,000.
Paradise in Peril, 1 x 60’, SunPix for viewing on Pasifika TV, ArauraTV and TP+, up to $310,000.
Rugby Chiefs: Village Legends, 1 x 45’, Kava Bowl Media, for viewing on TV1 Samoa and Pasifika TV, up to $310,000.
The Bride Price – Vanuatu, 1 x 44’, Great Southern Television for viewing on VBTC, Pasifika TV and YouTube, up to $310,000.
The War Below: Restoring Hope In The Solomon Islands, 1 x 44’, Nine Islands Media for viewing on Pasifika TV, Telekom TV and The CoconetTV, up to $309,996.
Platforms/Discoverability
Media Access Charitable Trust (Able), Able - Captioning And Audio Description 2024/25, up to $4,900,000
Siufofoga O Le Laumua Trust, Samoa Capital Radio 2024/25, up to $240,000
National Pacific Radio Trust, The National Pacific Media Trust 2024/25, up to $4,935,000
Access Radio Taranaki Trust, Access Radio Taranaki 2024/25, up to $290,000
Waikato Community Broadcasting, Accessmedia.NZ 2024/25, up to $122,345
Access Radio Wairarapa Charitable Trust, Arrow FM 2024/25, up to $240,000
Access Community Radio Auckland Inc, Cama National Representative 2024/25, up to $75,000
Coast Access Radio Trust, Coast Access Radio 2024/25, up to $235,000
Waikato Community Broadcasting, Free FM 2024/25, up to $342,600
Tasman Broadcasting Trust T/A Fresh FM, FRESH FM 2024/25, up to $275,000
Manawatu Access Radio Charitable Trust, Manawatu People's Radio 2024/25, up to $280,000
Hills Radio Trust, Otago Access Radio 2024/25, up to $285,000
The Canterbury Communications Trust, Plains Fm 2024/25, up To $339,000
Access Community Radio Auckland Inc, Planet FM 2024/25, up to $350,000
Radio Kidnappers Charitable Trust, Radio Hawke's Bay 2024/25, up to $300,000
Southland Community Broadcasters Charitable Trust, Radio Southland 2024/25, up to $277,500
Wellington Access Broadcasting Society Inc, Wellington Access Radio 2024/25, up to $345,000
Kinga Voxpop Ltd, Voxpops 2024/25, up to $22,500
Digital Media Trust, up to $1,800,000
Media Access Charitable Trust, ABLE for captioning and audio description 2024/25, up to $4,900,000
Campus Radio Bfm, 95BFM 2024/25, up to $320,000
Radio Active FM , Radio Active 2024/25, up to $280,000
Massey University Students Association, Radio Control 99.4FM 2024/25, up to $180,000
Radio One 91 Fm, Radio One 91FM 2024/25, up to $210,000
RDU 98.5FM, RDU98.5FM 2024/25, up to $280,000
Radio New Zealand, Radio New Zealand 2024/2025, $66,606,000
Music
New Music Project Kids
Chanelle & Friends, Creature Groove Album, up to $30162
Claudia Robin Gunn, Playful, Helpful, Wonderful Album, up to $44000
FleaBITE & Levity Beet, BeeBite 3 & BeeBite 4 album, up to $37972
Jenny Payne T/A Itty Bitty Beats, Itty Bitty Beats - A Year Of Song Confetti, up to $44,000
Redmore Books, Jeremy Redmore – Singalongercise, up to $35,913
DRM, Kiri And Lou - Album 4 (Working Title), up to $35,288
Loopy Tunes Preschool Music, Matariki For Preschoolers, up to $44,000
Yipadee Entertainments, Deano Yipadee - Singing Author Collab, up to $44,000
New Music Pan-Asian
(each receive up to $11,000)
Annika Rani, Feel
Club Ruby, Heartbreak Overtime
Dān Dān, Pressure Cooker
ERIN G, Chameleon
FĒI LÍN, You Are The Mirror
Glxria, Run Into You
Goodspace, Easier Said Than Done
Iris G, GPS
Iris Zhang, High Road
KY, Shining
Lizzy Kula, Afterthought
Memory Foam, Sushi Train
Nikita 雅涵 Tu-bryant, Chasing Summer
Reshma, Make Me Wanna Stay
Rever, Devil In Disguise
Sabreen Islam, Countryman
Taebz, Fever Dream In Seoul
TEI., BBQ
Valere, I'll Tell You When I Know
Venice Qin, Freak Out
New Music Single
(each receive up to $11,000)
Beacon Bloom, Show Me How To Love
Borderline, Heartbeat
Casual Healing, Mā, Hyper-sensitive
Coast Arcade, Baited
Come On Up, Fyah
Crystal, I Wanna Make It Up To You
Crystal Chen, The Forecast
Dillastrate, Don't Say It
Edy & Hamo Dell, Damaged
Emma Dilemma, Libra
Flamingo Pier, Supro
Frankie Venter, How You Like Me Now
Hales, Any Other Way
Hone, 12 Rounds Ft. Sire
Jack Panther, Why Won't We
Jarna, Dumb In Love (Oh Mama)
Juno Is, Another Deal
Kaylee Bell, Cowboy Up
Lee Stuart, Clover
Mazbou Q, Na So! (Feat. Akintoye)
Mim Jensen, Same Blood*
Na Noise, Life's A Gas
Otium, Five Clicks
Ponz, Fantasies
Ruby Coley, Take Me Back
Sam Heselwood, Kind Love
Valley Kids, Stuck in My Head
Welcomer, Nothing Of You Remaining
Wet Denim, Again and Again
Wiri Donna, Bad Behaviour
Xuzz, Big Guts
Zëxïï, Lihini, Untouchable Dior
New Music Project
Alien Weaponry, Album 3 Untitled, up to $44,000
Bakers Eddy, 2024 EP, up to $23,843
Beacon Bloom, Beacon Bloom LP, up to $33,000
Diggy Dupé, Innercity Goes International LP, up to $44,000
Foley, Multi Single Project, up to $44,000
Kaylee Bell, 2024 EP, up to $33,000
Kimbra - Idols & Vices LP, up to $44,000
Reuben Fleetwood, Up In Flames EP, up to $44,000
Samuel Flynn Scott, All Over The Place LP, up to $44,000
Summer Thieves, new Album, up to $44,000
Sxmpra, Debut Album, up to $44,000
There's A Tuesday, Debut Album, up to $33,000
Tipene, 2024 LP, up to $44,000
Yumi Zouma, 2024 LP, up to $44,000
Music Development
Record Enable 2024, Emily Wheatcroft-Snape, up to $26,000
National Secondary Schools Songwriting Competition 2024, Play It Strange Trust, up to $20,000
Discoverability
Recordedmusic, Aotearoa Music Awards 2024 (Broadcast), up to $100.000
APRA AMCOS NZ, APRA Silver Scroll Awards Kaitito Kaiaka 2024, up to $20,000
Pacific Music Awards Trust, Pacific Music Awards 2024, up to $24,000
Show Me Shorts Film Festival Trust, Show Me Shorts 2024, up to $3,000
NZ Game Developers Conference 2024, NZ Game Developers Association, up to $20,000
Soundcheck Aotearoa 2024, Soundcheck Aotearoa, up to $50,000
J & A Productions, New Zealand Television Awards 2024, up to $60,000
Soundcheck Aotearoa 2024, up to $50,000
Capability
Pan-Asian Screen Collective INC, Episode One Redux (Pilot Production), up to $380,000
Songhubs 2025, APRA AMCOS NZ, up to $40,000
Pacific Music Awards 20th Anniversary Vaka Songs, Pacific Music Awards Trust, up to $212250
Professional Development Workshop, Music Managers Forum, up to $46,650
The Aotearoa Music Producer Series (AMPS) 2024, Greg Haver, up to $10,000
Aotearoa Music Supervision and Sync Workshop, Amine Ramer, up to $1,500
AWOL Collab Songwriting Camp, AWOL Collective, up to $10,000
Rupture 2, The Story Project, up to $540,256
DEGANZ Director Attachment Programme, Directors and Editors Guild of NZ, up to $30,000
Episode One Redux, Pan-Asian Screen Collective, up to $55,000
Game Development Sector Rebate scheme
Year One general registration
- 2Up Games
- A44
- Balancing Monkey Games
- Beyond Studios
- Blind Squirrel Games
- CamShaft Software
- CerebralFix
- Deep Field Games
- Digital Confectioners
- Dinosaur Polo Club
- Dreamloft Games
- Gfactor
- Grinding Gear Games
- Hashbane Interactive
- Janzen IP Co
- Flightless
- Mighty Eyes
- Mytona
- Niantic Aotearoa NZ
- Ninja Kiwi
- Outerdawn
- PikPok
- RiffRaff Games
- RocketWerkz
- Runaway
- Sharpmind Games
- Space Rock Games
- StaplesVR
- Synty Studios
- Usual Suspects Studios
- Wētā Workshop
- Zero King
Rebate Decisions – Pilot Phase (announced December 2023)
- A44
- CerebralFix
- Futureverse
- Grinding Gear Games
- Mytona
- Ninja Kiwi
- PikPok
- RocketWerkz
- Wētā Workshop