Tā te Tumu Whakarae Pūrongo 
Tumu Whakarae Chief Executive’s Report

Tērā te tāhu o te whare e tūhono nei i a tātou ki te rangi, ki a rātou mā e iri mai nā, ki te poho o Ranginui. Ka whai te karu i ōna heke, i ōna paetara, i ōna tukutuku, i ōna poupou kanorau, ka tau ki tōna papa, ki te uma o Papatūānuku. Ko ōna kōrero e hāngai ana ki te whakatipu; ka mau ki tōna aka matua, he aka tūhono ki ōna hoa, Te Tiriti mai, hapori mai, aha rānei mai, ko tōna iho, he titikaha, ko ōna hua, he nui. Ko tōna kaiāwhā kua haukerekerea nei e ngā marangai, e ngā papatoieketanga o te tau kua taha ake nei, he whakapakaritanga māna. Ka waiho te tatau o tēnei whare kia tuwhera hei kuhunga mā te katoa. Koinei Te Whare o Te Manatū Taonga e tū atu nei e!

The 2019/20 year has been an extraordinary one. Responding to COVID-19 has seen Manatū Taonga and the wider cultural sector undertake a significant programme of activity aimed at recovery, regeneration and revitalisation. This work continues at pace as we deliver on the initiatives announced, including in Budget 2020. We also worked with media organisations to design and deliver immediate relief to ensure they were able to continue with their essential task of providing reliable and up-to-date news to keep New Zealanders connected. The work, and the funding underpinning this, recognises the contribution the whole culture sector makes to wellbeing in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Many other important initiatives were advanced during the year.

• In 2019 the Creatives in Schools programme kicked off with professional artists and creative practitioners partnering with schools and kura to share their expertise with students.
• Further Te Tai Treaty Settlement Stories were launched, enabling iwi and hapū to tell their settlement stories, providing an education resource for future generations.
• On 28 November 2019 we acknowledged the 40th anniversary of the Erebus accident—the worst civil accident in New Zealand’s history. At an event for families and friends of victims, the Prime Minister and Air New Zealand Board Chair apologised for the accident and the treatment of families in the aftermath.
• From October to December 2019 the Tuia 250 commemoration marked the first onshore encounters between Māori and Pākehā in 1769 through a nationwide programme that included a three-month voyage of waka and tall ships around New Zealand. The commemoration generated discussion and debate throughout the country about our heritage and ancestry— conversations that are continuing today.
• The future of public media took another step forward with work undertaken on the viability of forming a new public media entity to ensure the benefits of strong public media are preserved for future generations.

These initiatives were delivered in partnership with many others—funded agencies, iwi, community groups, and the wider public service. We are grateful for the support of all our partners.

Government investment in the sector will ensure it can continue to make a significant economic contribution to the country, as well as stimulate new and innovative ways of working and engaging with New Zealanders. We welcome the government’s investment in Manatū Taonga as it enables us to better support the cultural sector and ensure we have the systems and processes in place to meet and deliver on our responsibilities.

Finally, I want to acknowledge the commitment and professionalism of Manatū Taonga staff. I am proud of their determination to make a difference for New Zealanders.
 

Bernadette Cavanagh
Tumu Whakarae | Chief Executive