7.1 Cultural Diplomacy International Programme
The Cultural Diplomacy International Programme aims to help establish and/or maintain a New Zealand cultural presence in key overseas regions or countries to boost New Zealand’s profile and economic, trade, tourism, diplomatic and cultural interests.
The Programme's objectives are to: project in targeted settings a distinctive profile of New Zealand as a creative and diverse society with a unique, contemporary culture strongly rooted in its diverse heritage; and to enhance understanding of and engagement with New Zealand among government and business leaders in target regions.
The current (2012) priority region is Asia, especially China, Japan and Korea.
7.2 The Hague Convention
The Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict was adopted at The Hague in 1954. It emerged as a result of the massive destruction of cultural heritage in the Second World War. Broadly, the convention obliges States Parties to protect all cultural property, in their own or other countries, in the event of armed conflict. As of April 2010, 123 countries were State Parties to the convention, including Australia, Canada, China, Russia, the US and most EU nations.
New Zealand signed the Convention in 1954, but did not ratify it until July 2008. The government stated that ratification was important as it sent “an important message regarding New Zealand’s commitment to the protection of cultural property”.
New Zealand is yet to sign the first and Second Protocols that provide additional protection for cultural property. It cannot do so until the Cultural Property (Protection in Armed Conflict) Bill has been passed. This Bill creates the necessary provisions to ensure that NZ can fulfil its obligations under the Protocols. It was introduced to the House on 26 August 2008, and as of May 2010 is awaiting its third reading. Once the Bill is passed, the government will then begin proceed with accession to the two Convention Protocols. You can read the entire Bill as it is currently drafted here.
Ratifying the Convention and its Protocols compels New Zealand to take certain measures to ensure the protection of cultural property in the event of armed conflict. These measures include the updating of military training, the dissemination of information about the Convention to the public and interested parties, and the establishment of a register of cultural property. The Ministry is currently working on this register and is taking further steps to publicise the Convention.
7.3 Other Cultural Activity
New Zealand has formal government-to-government cultural agreements with France and Italy. The agreement with France resulted in the establishment of a France/New Zealand Mixed Cultural, Scientific, Technical and Education Commission.
New Zealand has an informal cultural agreement with the People’s Republic of China to facilitate cultural exchanges.
Its participation in the four-yearly Pacific Arts Festival is overseen by a governmental committee, including the Ministry for Culture and Heritage.
The New Zealand Japan Exchange Programme, which fosters educational contacts between the two countries, and the Japan Exchange and Teaching Scheme also have a cultural component.
New Zealand’s Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage is a member of the Australian Cultural Ministers Council, a forum that enables the Australian cultural Ministers - federal, state and territories - to meet annually and discuss policy issues.
New Zealand is an active member of UNESCO, whose New Zealand office is based in the Ministry of Education; New Zealand is currently on the executive board. New Zealand is also a member of the UNESCO-affiliated International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM).
As of 11 September 2011, New Zealand currently has 13 bilateral film co-production agreements or arrangements in force with: Australia (1986, revised 1994), Canada (1987), France (1987), United Kingdom (1993), Italy (1997, revised 2004), Singapore (2004), Germany (2005), Ireland (2007), Spain (2008), Korea (2008) (for feature films only), China (2010) (for feature films only), India and South Africa (2011). New Zealand also has two non-binding co-operative arrangements for audio-visual industry co-operation, with the Republic of Korea (2005) and Hong Kong (2010).
