Cultural Statistics Programme
Since 1993 the Ministry has been working with Statistics New Zealand to develop and maintain a cultural statistics programme to improve the range and quality of information available on the cultural sector.
This information is used for the development of cultural policy, for future planning, for monitoring the sector's progress and performance, for marketing the sector's products and services, and for use in seeking funding and sponsorship support.
As part of this programme two reports have been updated and will be due for release in late June 2005.
Employment in the Cultural Sector was last updated in 1998 and provides information on employment in cultural occupations and cultural industries using census data. This year's update is based on data from the 2001 census.
Government Spending on Culture examines the amounts spent by both central and local government to enhance New Zealanders' access to cultural goods and services. This report was last published in 2000, covering the decade 1990 to 1999.
A new initiative should also be completed by the end of June, Cultural Indicators for New Zealand. The indicators aim to provide a measure of the health of New Zealand 's cultural sector and this will be updated regularly as part of the cultural statistics programme.
These three reports will be available from the Ministry for Culture and Heritage or Statistics New Zealand.
Cultural Well-being
With changes to the Local Government Act, local authorities are now charged with promoting cultural well-being in their community alongside the more traditional focus of interest on environmental, social and economic well-being.
The Ministry is taking an active role in assisting councils to come to grips with this new responsibility with Chief Executive, Martin Matthews visiting mayors and chief executives to discuss the concept of cultural well-being.
To help councillors and staff gain a broad understanding of what cultural well-being could mean in their communities, the Ministry has also been running a series of regional workshops around the country.
The workshops aim to get the people involved thinking about how aspects of cultural well-being can be incorporated in new and innovative initiatives in their districts or regions.
The Ministry's definition of cultural well-being is broadly based, it encompasses arts, culture, heritage, language, broadcasting, and sport and recreation. Cultural well-being is about reflecting our values, beliefs and identities, the way we express ourselves and communicate with one another.
The Ministry is currently identifying a programme of activities for the next stage of the cultural well-being project, from July 2005. These will focus on how central government can build stronger connections between agencies involved in promoting cultural well-being, as well as enhancing the understanding of cultural well-being.