Chief Executive’s foreword
Pūrongo a te Tumu Whakarae

E ngā mātāwaka o te motu tēnā koutou, otirā tēnā tātou katoa.

Tēnā tātou i ō tātou tini mate, kua tangihia, kua mihia, kua ea te wāhi ki a rātou.

Nau mai, tautī mai ki te whare o te Manatū Taonga, ki te whare e whaia ana te wawata ‘kia puāwai te ahuarea kia ora ko tātou katoa’.

I’m pleased to present the 2023/24 Annual Report for Manatū Taonga Ministry for Culture and Heritage. This report provides a snapshot of the important pieces of work we delivered during the last financial year to make progress towards our strategic outcomes, as well as laying out our expenditure and how we have invested in the arts, media, screen, heritage and sport sectors.

It’s important to acknowledge that it’s been a year of change, which presents its own challenges and opportunities. For our Ministry, the year has strengthened our resolve to support the cultural system as a whole. I see the position of the Ministry as a steward uniquely placed to bring groups together to achieve better outcomes for New Zealanders. We were able to work effectively with our funded cultural agencies on the Budget process and collectively contributed to the government’s savings programme.

Our organisation also went through consultation on a new structure that would better align our resources with our strategy, ‘Te Rautaki’. We’ve been through that period of uncertainty, and we’ve come out the other side with an operating model that allows us to be more flexible and agile and to focus on building our evidence-based system-view of the cultural sectors. Utilising this model, we can provide information and insights that will help government and sector organisations make decisions.

Alongside internal, sector and global change, we’ve continued to deliver for New Zealanders in line with our vision:

Ki te puāwai te ahurea
Ka ora te iwi 
Culture is thriving 
The people are well.

In 2023/24, we made milestone progress in a number of areas. Supporting careers in the arts is a key part of making sure culture is valued and nurtured. Through initiatives like the new Artists Resale Royalty scheme, generations of artists will be supported to sustain a career in the arts. We have continued to partner with iwi Māori to help them achieve their cultural aspirations and to ensure that Māori culture is recognised, valued and embraced. We have continued to connect people with each other, their communities and society through various projects and partnerships – whether that’s helping to modernise the way media operate, or by publishing histories that build our understanding. We have supported communities to participate in meaningful cultural experiences and continue to work on improving access. At an international level, the year has seen us support New Zealand’s government engagement across many different initiatives and we’ve helped to amplify New Zealand’s international presence through a cultural diplomacy programme. You can read about all these initiatives, and more, in this report.

I want to thank all our partners, including the organisations we fund and the people we have worked with over the past year. Thank you for your trust, your enthusiasm and passion, and thank you for your efforts to create opportunity and connection.

Finally, a huge thank you to my staff at Manatū Taonga. I appreciate your hard work, expertise and commitment to our mahi through what has been a challenging year.

I look forward to the next financial year and the impact we will continue to make together.

Ngā manaakitanga

Leauanae Laulu Mac Leauanae 
Tumu Whakarae
Secretary for Culture and Heritage and Chief Executive

Our role
Tā mātou tūnga

What we do
Ā mātou mahi

We lead government work in the arts, heritage, media and sports sectors and provide Ministers with advice on legislation, policy and sector development.

Our legislative responsibilities

We are a small Ministry with a wide remit. Our legislative responsibilities span a range of areas, from caring for protected objects of historical importance to supporting the observance of Matariki as a public holiday.

We are responsible for the care of war graves and memorials for the casualties of the First and Second World War, including Pukeahu National War Memorial Park, and we lead national commemorations such as Anzac Day. We are responsible for directives on the half-masting of the New Zealand flag on government buildings, and issue guidance on rules of conduct and etiquette for the flying of the New Zealand flag.

We also have government responsibilities for Crown entities such as Creative New Zealand, Radio New Zealand and Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga.

This report focuses on our arts, culture and heritage portfolio (including media) as information on the sports portfolio is available from Sport New Zealand.

Working closely with New Zealand’s cultural sectors

Manatū Taonga is uniquely placed to bring people together from across New Zealand’s cultural sectors to achieve greater impacts for the cultural sector s and the people and communities of New Zealand. The most recent assessment of the contribution of the arts and creative sector to New Zealand’s total economy is $16.3 billion, 4.3 per cent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), the highest recorded contribution to date. Our Ministry’s expertise is critical to providing a whole-of-system view and an understanding of the issues and opportunities in the arts and creative sector. This is how we add value.

Our role as the government’s principal advisors on the cultural system means we take a short, medium and long-term view of opportunities and challenges, and lead a collective response to them. Our strategy Te Rautaki provides the framework for us to drive a thriving culture, which is set out in the next section and sets out our progress.

One of the ways this stewardship approach works in practice is by regularly bringing together the chief executives of our cultural entities. This engagement enables the sharing of critical information about government expectations and programmes, and encourages shared approaches to common challenges and opportunities.

Our strengthened connections have resulted in closer collaboration in areas such as cross-system support to build the evidence base on the value of arts, heritage, media and sport. Over the past year, we’ve partnered with our funded cultural entities to develop Te Angamahi Taunakitanga Pūnaha Ahurea | Cultural System Evidence Framework. This framework will be used to identify and collate evidence and guide both the Ministry’s and our funded entities’ future insights programmes. This will help us better understand the health and value of the cultural system, and support evidence-based, effective social investment.

We have published ten reports during the financial year, including the Growing Up in New Zealand report, which is outlined in the Our performance section.

Our reputation

The reputation of the Ministry and the arts and creative sector has improved since 2023. According to the Public Sector Reputation Index 2024, Manatū Taonga and Creative New Zealand were among the five organisations that showed the strongest improvement in reputation – suggesting a more favourable view of the arts and creative sector.

Budget significant initiatives

The status of significant initiatives funded in recent Budgets is summarised below. A significant initiative can be a new activity or the expansion of an existing activity. Cost pressure initiatives that sustain existing activities have been excluded.

Strong Public Media

This initiative was first funded in Budget 2022 at $370.1 million over four years, partially offset by expected returned (surplus) revenue.

The Strong Public Media programme was closed in February 2023. Funding of Radio New Zealand was increased by $24.7 million per annum to meet the government’s public media objectives. The remainder of uncommitted funding was returned to the government for allocation to other priorities.

Performance information for Radio New Zealand is available in its annual report.

A summary of this programme, including its final costs, is available on the Ministry’s website.

Strong Public Media

Te Papa Tongarewa – Replacement Facility for Spirit Collection Area

This initiative was first funded in Budget 2022 at $42.9 million, with additional amounts held in a tagged contingency fund. The contingency amount is not reported for reasons of commercial sensitivity.

This project, now known as the Biodiversity Research Centre, has progressed with the purchase of land in Upper Hutt and design work to inform an Implementation Business Case that will be submitted to Ministers.

Information on the current status of this project is available in the annual report of Te Papa Tongarewa.

Whakanui – Embedding Te Ao Māori in Aotearoa through Matariki and Waitangi Commemorations

This initiative was first funded in Budget 2022 by:

• increasing the funding for Waitangi Day commemorations to $750,000 per annum
• creating a new Matariki Public Holiday Fund of $1.5 million per annum.

Decisions in subsequent Budgets have increased the funding for the Matariki Public Holiday Fund to $3 million per annum.

Performance information for Supporting Commemorations and Anniversaries is provided in the Minister’s Report on Non-Departmental Appropriations, which is available on the Parliament website.

The Commemorating Waitangi Day Fund supports the national event at Waitangi and provides contestable funding for community events. Information about the contestable funding is available on our website.

Commemorating Waitangi Fund

More information about support for the commemoration of Waitangi Day is provided in the Our performance section of this annual report.

To date the Matariki Public Holiday Fund has supported the national hautapu and related broadcasting and awareness activities, with some contestable funding for community events.

More information about Matariki is provided in the Our performance section.

Extension of Cultural Sector COVID-19 Financial Support

This initiative was funded in February 2022 to expand existing programmes to support the cultural sector in response to the impact of new variants of COVID-19. It consisted of:

• $70 million for the Arts and Culture Event Support Scheme to provide confidence to organisations planning future events
• $35 million for the Cultural Sector Emergency Relief Fund to support arts and cultural sector organisations and practitioners
• $15 million to extend the Screen Production Recovery Fund to provide confidence to the screen sector by reimbursing costs attributed to certain impacts of COVID-19.

These initiatives have now been concluded.

Details of the spending and support provided through the Arts and Culture Event Support Scheme and the Cultural Sector Emergency Relief Fund are available on our website.

Arts and Culture COVID Recovery Programme funds

The Screen Production Recovery Fund was administered by the New Zealand Film Commission and New Zealand On Air. A total of $13.2 million was paid to productions.

Performance information for the COVID Response and Recovery Programme is provided in the Minister’s Report on Non-Departmental Appropriations, which is available on the Parliament website.

Artist Resale Royalty Scheme – Implementation

This initiative was funded in Budget 2023 at $189,000 in 2023/24 and $255,000 per annum in the following three years, to support a collection agency to administer the scheme, which enables artists to claim a royalty each time their artwork sells on the secondary art market.

The progress of this scheme is discussed which in the Our performance section of this annual report.

Te Matatini – Funding to Stimulate the Sustainable Growth of Kapa Haka

This was initially funded in Budget 2023, providing an additional $17 million to Te Matatini, making a total of $19.9 million for two years. A subsequent decision in Budget 2024 baselined the total funding for Te Matatini at $19.1 million in 2025/26 and $19.2 million per annum thereafter.

Performance information for Te Matatini is available in its annual report and in the Minister’s Report on Non-Departmental Appropriations, which is available on the Parliament website.

Implementing Government’s Commitment to Deliver a Dawn Raids Historical Account

A series of initiatives was initially funded in Budget 2022 to deliver on announcements made at the Government Dawn Raid Apology in 2021. The outputs administered by the Ministry are:

• $890,000 in 2022/23 and $540,000 per annum thereafter transferred from the Ministry for Pacific Peoples for a platform of stories
• a one-off sum of $2 million for creative works that capture and reflect community experiences of the Dawn Raids.

The work of the Ministry to develop the platform of stories is discussed in this annual report in the Our performance section.

Details of the funding provided for creative works are available on the Creative New Zealand website.

Niu Dawn Raids Funding Initiative Grants (Creative New Zealand)

Integrity of Sport and Recreation – Participant Safety and Wellbeing

This initiative was funded in Budget 2023, which provided $31.4 million over four years to establish a new independent Crown Entity to promote and protect the safety and wellbeing of participants in sport and active recreation. When this is added to existing funding, the ongoing baseline for the new entity will be $11.3 million per annum from 2026/27.

The Integrity Sport and Recreation Act 2023 established the Integrity Sport and Recreation Commission and set out its responsibilities. This Act also moved the responsibilities of Drug Free Sport New Zealand to the new Commission.

The Integrity Sport and Recreation Commission began operating on 1 July 2024. Performance information for the previous agency, Drug Free Sport New Zealand, is available in its annual report.

Our performance 
Whakatutukinga mahi

Progress towards our strategic intentions
Kokenga ki ā mātou whāinga rautaki

We operate under the guidance of our strategy, Te Rautaki o Manatū Taonga 2021–2040 (Te Rautaki), which describes the aspirations we have for New Zealand’s cultural and creative system, our stewardship role, and the approach we take to optimising our contribution and impact.

Te Rautaki is a 20-year journey that describes what success will look like for us and our sectors. We are three years into that journey. Over the past year the Ministry has moved through a change process to align our operating model to our strategy, and to set ourselves up to make sure the work we do is driven by our strategic priorities.

Our long-term outcomes are to have higher cultural participation rates in targeted communities, and a cultural system that is inclusive, reflective, sustainable and resilient. In this annual report, the Te Rautaki success descriptors are used to frame our work:

1. Culture is inclusive and reflective, supporting people to connect and engage with each other, their community and society
2. Māori culture is recognised, valued and embraced by New Zealanders
3. People can access and are participating in cultural activities and experiences
4. Cultural activity is valued, supported and nurtured
5. The cultural system is resilient and sustainable.

In the following pages, we explain how the Ministry’s work programmes support the five success descriptors, and describe how our work during 2023/24 has driven progress towards our long-term goals.

Te Rautaki o Manatū Taonga

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Summary of key statistics

In each section of this report, you’ll find insights and data relating to the five success descriptors listed above. This information is provided at both a national and a programme level, with reference to recent research. Here is a summary of the key data:

Government support

$448 million government investment through Vote Arts, Culture and Heritage for FY2023/24

+ $153 million lottery profits directly allocated to four bodies: Creative New Zealand, New Zealand Film Commission, Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision, Sport New Zealand.

The cultural system contributes

• $16.3 billion (4.3% of GDP) contribution of the cultural system to the New Zealand economy.
• 5.3% growth in cultural system GDP compared to 2.9% growth for the whole economy.
• 11,345 Māori had their primary employment in the cultural system in 2023. 
  Māori employment in the cultural system grew by 3.1% in 2023, compared with overall growth of 2.8% within New Zealand’s cultural system.
• 117,517 people have their primary employment in the cultural system (2023). 
  Cultural system employment grew by 2.8% in 2023, compared with overall New Zealand growth of 2.4%.
• 37,157 businesses in the arts and creative sector in 2023. 
  The number of businesses in the sector grew by 3.1% in 2023, compared with a growth of 1.7% in the total economy.

Regional employment in the cultural system

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New Zealanders take part in cultural activities

• 97% of New Zealanders participated in at least one form of cultural activity.
• $2.3 billion tourism expenditure on cultural, recreation, travel and tour services in the year to March 2023 (StatsNZ 2023).
• 99% of the population engaged with some form of media each week.
• 68% of New Zealanders think that Matariki brings people and communities together.
• $133 spent per household each week (on average) on recreation and cultural activities (StatsNZ 2023).
• 82% of New Zealanders preferred to engage with cultural activities in person in 2023, up from 67% in 2020.

Success descriptor 1
Culture is inclusive and reflective, supporting people to connect and engage with each other, their community and society

The cultural and creative sector plays a key role in connecting diverse communities across Aotearoa New Zealand. Building relationships enables people to connect and engage with each other to create a more inclusive society, fostering social and cultural participation and wellbeing.

Research has shown that there is a strong link between cultural participation and social cohesion and inclusion. For example, in the Ministry’s 2023 national cultural participation survey, half of all respondents said they engaged in arts, culture and heritage activities to connect with and understand others.

Additional findings highlight these links:

• 38% of New Zealanders say the arts make them feel less lonely and isolated.
• 60% of New Zealanders agree that the arts help improve society, with the most common reason being that the arts bring people together.
• 68% of New Zealanders learn about different cultures through the arts.
• 54% of New Zealanders agree that the arts provide opportunities for them to socialise and connect with others.
• 54% of New Zealanders see their community and people like themselves in New Zealand media content (reported in The Current State of New Zealand’s Media System 2023).

Research conducted for the Creative New Zealand report New Zealanders and the Arts – Ko Aotearoa me ōna Toi report found a strong link between the arts and New Zealanders’ sense of identity:

• 63 per cent of New Zealanders agree the arts help define who we are as New Zealanders
• 77 per cent of New Zealanders feel proud when New Zealand artists succeed overseas.

Some of the work the Ministry has undertaken to support an inclusive and reflective cultural system is described below.

Supporting Waitangi Day commemorations

We directly fund the Commemorating Waitangi Day Committee, an umbrella grass-roots organisation which coordinates the Waitangi Day commemorations at Waitangi. Our funding helps visitors experience our national day, including events at Te Tii Marae, activities for families and children, waka events, and associated logistics such as traffic management.

Record crowds attended the 2024 events at Waitangi, with more than 50,000 people estimated to be in attendance, more than double of the number 2023. the kōrero about the Treaty at Te Whare Runanga and the Lower Treaty grounds was wide-ranging and robust.

We also have a strong relationship with the Waitangi National Trust, which cares for the Waitangi National Estate on behalf of the people of Aotearoa New Zealand. We work closely with the Trust on a range of issues, from board governance and appointments to supporting the Trust’s administration of the estate.

Our Commemorating Waitangi Day Fund supports community-led events across the motu that commemorate the signing of Te Tiriti o Waitangi / The Treaty of Waitangi. We fund events throughout Aotearoa that increase awareness and knowledge of the Treaty through celebrations and the telling of local stories.

In 2023 we refreshed the funding criteria. We used feedback from applicants and funding assessors to identify ways to make it easier for applicants to show how their event would meet the purpose of the fund.

In 2024, 35 community events to commemorate Waitangi Day around the country were funded using the refreshed criteria. More than 200,000 people from Northland to Otago came out to connect with each other, and commemorate and learn about the Treaty.

Modernising the Pacific Media Network to better serve Pacific audiences

We fund the National Pacific Trust (the Trust), which operates the Pacific Media Network (PMN), to empower and nurture Pacific cultural identity and prosperity in Aotearoa. Supporting Pacific media helps to support indigenous Pacific cultures within New Zealand.

During the past financial year, Manatū Taonga worked with the Ministry for Pacific Peoples, NZ On Air and PMN to update the Trust’s deed to modernise the strategic objectives of the organisation. The changes remove barriers and constraints, and refresh the Trust’s objectives so it can better serve the needs of Pacific people and communities. This will help the Trust deliver aspects of the Pacific Languages Strategy.

The changes to the Trust deed will help future-proof the organisation. NZ On Air’s Where are the Audiences 2023 survey showed that Pacific audience habits are changing. Pacific audiences are more likely to listen to streaming music than radio. This shows the importance of digital transformation to make the PMN more relevant to Pacific audiences.

The amendments allow the PMN to harness new and emerging technologies to transform Pacific media delivery from linear television and radio broadcasting to modern multi-media operations. The Trust has been renamed the National Pacific Media Trust to reflect its new focus on delivering multiple types of media to better serve the needs of Pacific audiences.

Telling the story of New Zealand women’s football during the FIFA Women’s World Cup

Revisiting the stories and histories that we share is one of the ways we make sure we reflect an inclusive society. To help promote the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, which was co-hosted by New Zealand and Australia, Manatū Taonga published new historical content about women’s football on the NZHistory website and Te Ara online encyclopedia.

A detailed illustrated timeline on NZHistory explores the long but often neglected history of women’s football in New Zealand. The new stories and timeline more accurately reflect the diverse history of the game in New Zealand. We revised existing Te Ara football content to provide more balanced coverage of the women’s and men’s games. The webpages hosting this content have been viewed by thousands of New Zealanders since they were updated.

During the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup we also contributed historical advice to support the New Zealand Story Group’s Wahine Toa campaign, which celebrated Kiwi women who have achieved world firsts.

The tournament had the highest positive impact on the gender balance of sports news coverage since SportNZ’s media and gender study began four years ago. During the tournament, media coverage was split equally between women’s and men’s sports.

Increasing understanding of the Dawn Raids as a significant period in our history

Manatū Taonga has made significant progress in developing an online platform to support the telling of Pacific people’s historical stories, including the Dawn Raids. Creating an online home for digital storytelling is one outcome of the Government’s 2021 apology for the Dawn Raids.

The online platform will help New Zealanders understand the Dawn Raids and promote healing and reconciliation for Pacific communities. It is a key component of the broader Dawn Raids Historical Account Package (funded through Budget 2022), with the first iteration of the platform scheduled to go live by the end of 2024.

To scope and shape this work, we have been connecting with communities and agencies across the country. During the past year, we collaborated with three Pacific community project ‘navigators’ and engaged with more than 50 Pacific communities across New Zealand. Through a series of community meetings, immersive workshops and talanoa sessions, we heard a diverse range of perspectives.

These community interactions emphasised the significance of content accessibility, and the need to consider the diverse Pacific demographic and uncover the lesser-known histories of this era. Insights from these community engagements empower us to honour the extensive histories of the Dawn Raids by positioning this platform as an important educational tool for future generations, fostering connections within the community and wider society.

Manatū Taonga has also worked closely with key stakeholders, including the Ministry for Pacific Peoples, Creative New Zealand and Te Papa Tongarewa Museum of New Zealand. We supported Creative New Zealand with its Niu Dawn Raids Funding Initiative, a one-off $1.9 million investment allocated in March 2024, which will enable 28 Pacific artists and organisations to share their stories in diverse and meaningful ways.

Commemorating Anzac Day and other military events

Every year Pukeahu National War Memorial Park (Pukeahu) hosts numerous commemorations and other events that connect communities to each other and strengthen New Zealand’s international connections.

The largest event of the year is Anzac Day, when many thousands attend the Dawn Service. This year’s dawn service had the largest crowd since the park opened, but high winds meant that the 11 a.m. national commemoration had to be moved inside the Hall of Memories. This was the first time that this ceremony could not be held as planned or broadcast due to weather.

Commemorations of the wars in Korea, Vietnam and Malaya/Malaysia, and services for Merchant Navy Day and Armistice Day, also brought communities together. Hundreds of veterans and family members gathered to remember their fallen comrades and express gratitude for their service, or tuned in to watch livestream coverage.

Visits by international dignitaries are also regular events at Pukeahu. International heads of state, military leaders and diplomats regularly make their way to the park to pay their respects. During the 2023/24 financial year we hosted 15 international dignitaries, including the head of state of Samoa, a Ukrainian parliamentary delegation, the mayor of Flers (France), the deputy commander of United Nations Command and the president of the Korean War Memorial.

Diplomacy can take many forms. International visits to Pukeahu often form part of a wider visit programme and official engagements are managed in collaboration with the Visits and Ceremonial Office of the Department of Internal Affairs, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and the New Zealand Defence Force. Visits to the Pukeahu memorials help build international relationships, as guests acknowledge the New Zealanders who have lost their lives in conflict.

Success descriptor 2
Māori culture is recognised, valued and embraced by New Zealanders

Te ao Māori is a foundation of Aotearoa New Zealand and plays a pivotal role in defining our multicultural society. We are focused on strengthening Māori–Crown relations to support iwi Māori to achieve their cultural aspirations. Our work assists the recognition of Māori culture as a central, unique and intrinsic part of the culture and identity of Aotearoa New Zealand.

We measure success in this area at a national or population level. This includes looking at data on New Zealanders’ participation in, and attitudes towards, Māori cultural activities, te reo Māori and the Matariki public holiday. Core surveys conducted in 2023 included the Ministry’s report on New Zealanders’ Cultural Participation in 2023 and Creative New Zealand’s New Zealanders and the Arts – Ko Aotearoa me ōna Toi.

Overall, participation in Māori arts, events and media has remained stable or increased in recent years.

Listening to iwi radio has increased significantly over the last three years, with Māori and younger audiences (18 to 29 years) more likely to have listened to iwi radio. Increased attendance at Māori performing arts events reflects a trend in performing arts more generally since 2020. Māori were significantly more likely than the total population to have attended a Māori performing arts event in 2023.

Percentage participation in the last three months (total sample)

Listened to iwi radio

Attended a Māori cultural festival

Attended a Matariki public / community event (new question asked in 2023)

Attended Māori performing arts

Attended Māori visual arts

* Indicates a significant increase from previous year

Ngā Toi Māori (Māori arts) are the works of Māori artists across heritage and contemporary artforms, including, but not limited to, whakairo (carving), raranga (weaving), kanikani (dance), tuhinga (literature), puoro (music) and whakaari (theatre). Since 2020, more Māori have used Māori to connect with their culture, and more people have felt that Ngā Toi Māori helps define who we are as New Zealanders.

The rise in positive perceptions of Ngā Toi Māori is not restricted to Māori. Ngā Toi Māori has fostered greater cultural learning, improved emotional wellbeing, and (since 2017) the speaking of te reo by both Māori and the wider New Zealand population.

Wider impacts of Ngā Toi Māori include:

• 78 per cent of Māori feel Ngā Toi Māori is an important way of connecting with their culture and identity
• 75 per cent of Māori and 59 per cent of all New Zealanders feel Ngā Toi Māori helps define who we are as New Zealanders
• 66 per cent of Māori and 49 per cent of all New Zealanders learn about Māori culture through Ngā Toi Māori
• 55 per cent of Māori and 31 per cent of all New Zealanders feel Ngā Toi Māori improves how they feel about life in general.

Some of the work the Ministry has undertaken to support Māori culture to be recognised, valued and embraced by all New Zealanders is described below.

Matariki heri kai – Matariki , the bringer of food

Matariki is a taonga that is deeply rooted in Te ao Māori. We continue to support the delivery of commemorations for Te Rā Aro ki a Matariki (Matariki Observance Day) and help to regenerate mātauranga Matariki across Aotearoa.

The theme for Matariki celebrations in 2024 was Matariki Heri Kai. The phrase comes from the Māori proverb ‘Matariki whetū heri kai’, which means ‘Matariki, the bringer of food’. This proverb speaks to the link between the appearance of Matariki and the bounty of the impending season. This built on last year’s theme, ‘Matariki kāinga hokia’, which encouraged people to view Matariki as a time to journey home and spend time with whānau and friends.

The Ministry partnered with Ngāi Tahu and Te Rūnaka o Ōtākou to host a televised traditional hautapu ceremony in Wanaka on Friday 28 June 2024. Working closely with Te Māngai Pāho, the ceremony was livestreamed, showcasing traditional Matariki knowledge in te reo Māori to a large national and international audience.

Providing regional support and funding for Matariki has helped mātauranga Matariki to grow, become embedded in our national identity, and be protected for future generations. For Matariki 2024 we partnered with Te Puni Kōkiri to distribute funding through its Te Pū Harakeke fund, streamlining government support for Matariki . The partnership used established networks and relationships with Māori and community groups to support traditional knowledge holders of mātauranga Matariki .

A unique aspect of Matariki is that it is recognised in different many ways around Aotearoa. Iwi, hapū and other Māori communities have different traditions and ways of celebrating Matariki , and some celebrate Puanga instead. This diversity is unique and important, and is the reason we chose to spread funding across more than 70 regional events in 2024.

Matariki Ahunga Nui funding recipients in 2023

Te Pū Harakeke Fund 2024 (Te Puni Kōkiri)

Research tracks New Zealanders’ engagement with Matariki

In 2023 we commissioned an online survey of 1,653 New Zealanders aged 18 years and over to measure their knowledge of, attitudes towards, and behaviour around Matariki and the Matariki public holiday. The research was published in June 2024.

New Zealanders' engagement with Matariki report 2023

The research showed that there was a sense of momentum behind Matariki , with 67 per cent of New Zealanders thinking it was growing every year and 46 per cent wanting to do more to celebrate it in 2024.

Other insights were that:

• Most New Zealanders (87 per cent) are aware of Matariki and more than half (57 per cent) understand what it is and why we celebrate it
• More than two in three New Zealanders (70 per cent) think Matariki is a chance to celebrate the culture, people and stories of Aotearoa New Zealand
• Two in three (66 per cent) think Matariki is for all New Zealanders
• 72 per cent see it as an opportunity to connect with Māori culture, and 65 per cent see it as an opportunity for intergenerational storytelling and knowledge sharing
• 55 per cent feel Matariki encourages people to do something to connect with the natural environment
• 68 per cent think it brings people and communities together, with 60 per cent of New Zealanders celebrating Matariki in 2023; getting together with friends and whānau for kai and to view the stars were the most popular activities.

This research contributes to our understanding of engagement with Matariki over time and will be repeated in 2024. The survey confirms initial insights gathered as part of the Cultural Participation in 2022 survey.

Protecting Mātauranga Māori through the Te Awe Kōtuku programme

In 2023 the Ministry received the results of a kaupapa Māori evaluation of the Mātauranga Māori Te Awe Kōtuku (Te Awe Kōtuku) programme. We delivered this programme to support iwi, hapū, whānau and other Māori communities to safeguard arts, cultural and heritage mātauranga that was at risk because of COVID-19. Te Awe Kōtuku included more than 16 initiatives delivered by six partner agencies. 

The evaluation reported on the wide-ranging impacts of Te Awe Kōtuku, and on the ongoing risks and opportunities relating to the preservation and protection of mātauranga Māori. Completed by Aiko Ltd, the evaluation found the programme made a positive difference to the lives of ringatoi Māori, mātanga, tohunga, whānau, marae, hapū and iwi recipients and supported the reclamation, protection, preservation and transmission of mātauranga Māori.

The evaluation found that Te Awe Kōtuku:

• increased access to and participation in mātauranga
• improved the health and wellbeing of whānau, hapū, kaumātua, rangatahi
• strengthened connections to cultural identity and pride
• supported the reclamation of mātauranga that had lain dormant for generations
• protected mātauranga that was at risk of being lost
• built the capacity and capability of a new generation of ringatoi
• celebrated indigenous brilliance and the depth and breadth of mātauranga.

One of the Te Awe Kōtuku wānanga projects undertaken during the 2023/24 financial year was ‘Tauranga Ika, Tauranga Waka’. This wānanga was delivered by Te Kāhui o Taranaki Iwi Trust in partnership with Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga to preserve the mātauranga of traditional fishing practices and sites.

Over the course of three wānanga, Taranaki uri (descendants) young and old gathered to examine tauranga waka (waka landing channels) and fishing practices that were once common along the Taranaki coastline. They shared kōrero tuku iho (ancestral histories), visited ancient fishing traps and held wānanga. Wānanga were led by kaimahi from local hapū and pūkenga (experts) demonstrated how to weave kūpenga (nets) to help revive this traditional practice.

Creating the compelling award-winning podcast Te Rauparaha: Kei Wareware

Our historians worked with iwi Māori to share Te ao Māori histories with Aotearoa New Zealand. The most notable project over the past year was working alongside multiple iwi to create the podcast series Te Rauparaha: Kei Wareware.

The five-part series tells the story of the life and times of Ngāti Toa leader Te Rauparaha, a significant figure in the history of Aotearoa. We partnered with Ngāti Toa Rangatira, Ngāi Tahu and the Kurahaupō iwi collective to create a historical and educational resource for all New Zealanders which recognises, values and embraces Māori culture. At least 30 per cent of the podcast is in te reo Māori.

Our historians worked closely with the historian and translator Ross Calman (Ngāti Toa). Calman’s new translation of Tamihana Te Rauparaha’s manuscript about the life of his father was a basis for the project. Producer Kirsten Johnstone (Ngāi Tahu, Pākehā) of Popsock Media led the interviewing and production process to create an engaging and fast-paced story.

A multi-iwi model was used to enhance the mana of all those involved. Ngāti Toa tikanga and kawa guided the project to ensure the mātauranga gathered for the production remained in the guardianship of the iwi involved. A Māori Data Sovereignty model was utilised, with all interviews sent to iwi archives once the production was completed.

By June 2024, the podcast series had been downloaded more than 40,200 times and broadcast across Aotearoa by Radio New Zealand. Te Rauparaha: Kei Wareware won Best Education podcast in the New York Festivals Radio Awards and was a finalist in the New Zealand Radio and Podcast Awards for Best Technical Production and Best Te Reo Māori podcast.

COVID funding leaves a lasting legacy for Māori

Safeguarding mātauranga Māori and supporting Toi Māori were key aims of the Regeneration and Innovation Funds. These funds were set up to support the cultural and creative sectors to survive, adapt and thrive in response to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many of the initiatives funded will have long-term benefits for Māori and New Zealand for years to come.

An evaluation of the Innovation Fund found evidence that funded initiatives have contributed to increasing mātauranga Māori. These kaupapa have done this through initiatives that have included conversations around traditional Māori art forms, creating new te reo words related to art forms, preserving traditional art methods, and telling mana whenua stories.

One such initiative was led by Te Tōpuni Ngārahu Limited. This organisation protects Taranaki oral arts by recording and analysing mātauranga Māori specific to Taranaki, developing a body of tikanga practitioners throughout the rohe. It continues to grow and strengthen region-specific tikanga, including kaikarakia, kaikaranga, kaiwhaikōrero, kaiwaiata, poi manu, pao, haka, paki waitara o Taranaki.

Similarly, Te Rā Ringa Raupā, a Māori weaving group, was funded to safeguard the mātauranga of Te Rā – the only historic woven Māori sail in existence, which is housed in the British Museum. The weaving group held wānanga with weavers throughout Aotearoa to build the capacity and skills required to revitalise this practice. For the first time in generations, several new sails are in the works, and a future where traditional rā can be seen on the water is within reach.

The Centre for New Zealand Music Trust (SOUNZ) developed Hōtaka Māori content in partnership with experts and knowledge-holders of mātauranga Māori. This content is freely available online for all audiences, safeguarding kōrero on mōteatea and puoro Māori. SOUNZ has also been assisting practitioners through online masterclasses on music-business skills from the perspective of Māori artists.

Supporting communities in the return of ancestral remains from overseas

We provide funding to support the Ngākahu National Repatriation Partnership (Ngākahu) which is run by the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa (Te Papa). Ngākahu provides museums, iwi, hapū and other communities with leadership, expert guidance, facilitation and grants. For iwi, the partnership enables repatriation of ancestral human remains to descendant communities. Ngākahu builds capacity and capability for museums, iwi and imi to ensure the safe return and care of ancestral remains. For example, in 2023 Ngākahu worked in partnership with a family, Marlborough Museum and Te Rūnanga a Rangitāne o Wairau to support caring for, housing and repatriating kōiwi tangata to the iwi. After conducting bioarchaeological research and analysis, Ngākahu also delivered a report to the Okains Bay Māori and Colonial Museum Board and Te Rūnanga o Koukourarata.

Ngākahu also supports delicate international repatriation efforts. In July 2023, Auckland Museum completed an examination of Aboriginal ancestral human remains. Experts provided a report to the Australian government which will support the repatriation of these ancestors.

Native American ancestors were also repatriated with the support of Ngākahu. The partnership contributed funding to repatriate two ancestors to the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation and the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation. The repatriation ceremony was held in May 2024 at Auckland Museum, where the ancestors have been since the late 1870s.

Close partnerships enable the preservation of taonga tūturu

When taonga tūturu (protected objects that whakapapa to te ao Māori) are discovered, we support Māori to care for these objects. Our role is to facilitate consultation between iwi, hapū and our panel of conservators on options for conserving found taonga tūturu. An iwi-led approach to conservation, from decision-making through to long-term care, ensures that we uphold the Crown’s responsibilities under the Protected Objects Act 1975.

The Kuranui waka was revealed in the Pātea river after heavy rain. Ngāti Ruanui, Ngaa Rauru and Te Pakakohi are all connected to this tōtara waka. In June 2023, kaumātua led karakia and waiata as the waka was uplifted and transported to Heritage Preservation Field Support Solutions Studios, conservators who specialise in wet organic wood treatment in the Taranaki region.

The waka was moved to a purpose-built tank filled with water from the Pātea river to maintain the mauri connection between the waka and the whenua of its origin. Mātauranga Māori will inform Western conservation practices to guide the treatment process. Iwi have decided, in consultation with the conservators, to take a 3D scan of the waka before progressing conservation treatment and aftercare, to ensure the longevity of the tōtara.

The strengthening hononga (relationship) between project participants has continued, with Manatū Taonga support of iwi aspirations for the future of the waka and the facilitation of access to specialist conservators through our Crown Appropriation Fund. South Taranaki District Council and Aotea Utanganui Museum of South Taranaki are also support.

Success descriptor 3
People can access and are participating in cultural activities and experiences

We have worked to support communities to access meaningful cultural activities and experiences. We know most New Zealanders participate in cultural activities, and we take an active role to increase access to New Zealand content, stories and heritage.

Our commitment to improving access to cultural activities crosses all areas of our work at Manatū Taonga. This ranges from direct funding of world-leading initiatives to hosting stories that make our history available to all New Zealanders and promoting opportunities for our creative communities in the Pacific.

New Zealanders participate in a wide range of cultural activities, including screen and performing arts, music, festivals, visual arts, literary arts, and gaming and cultural websites. In 2023 we conducted our third national cultural participation survey, using a representative sample of New Zealanders aged 18 and over. The survey was expanded to include new activities, including gaming and creating art.

The survey found that 97 per cent of adult New Zealanders participate in at least one form of cultural activity.

What changes have we seen in cultural participation?

Participation in some activities, including listening to radio, watching New Zealand-made television series and visiting libraries, was similar in 2022 and 2023.

Activities where engagement increased included:

• Listening to New Zealand podcasts increased in 2023, with 29 per cent of respondents doing so at least occasionally (up from 25 per cent in 2022 and 2020)
• Attending a musical, dance or theatre performance and Māori performing arts increased in 2023, with 23 per cent of respondents having attended a live performance of New Zealand music in the previous 12 months.

New Zealanders prefer to engage with cultural activities in person (82 per cent in 2023, compared to 77 per cent in 2022 and 67 per cent in 2020).

Differences in cultural participation between groups

Participation in and attendance at cultural activities differs among demographic groups. For example:

• Younger New Zealanders (aged 18 to 29 years) are more likely than older age groups to engage in some cultural activities (for example, playing New Zealand-made games, visiting a museum, attending a festival).
• Watching New Zealand movies is more likely to be reported by younger people (18–29 years, 55 per cent) and Māori (49 per cent) and Pacific (51 per cent) respondents (vs 40 per cent of the total)
• Women were more likely to have read New Zealand literature (30 per cent versus 23 per cent), whereas men were more likely to have sourced information from New Zealand archives (26 per cent vs 19 per cent)
• 44 per cent of New Zealanders reported creating their own art. New Zealanders who engage in artistic, cultural and heritage activities (particularly attending visual arts, festivals and commemorations, and performing arts) are more likely to report creating their own art.

Drivers for and barriers to cultural participation

Key drivers for participation:

• wanting to learn and experience new things (66 per cent)
• fun and entertainment (61 per cent)
• connecting with and understanding others (50 per cent)
• self-improvement and self-expression (27 per cent).

The biggest barrier to participation was cost (45 per cent). Respondents earning higher incomes were more likely to engage with a range of visual arts. Other key barriers were a lack of interest (33 per cent) or awareness (32 per cent), and it being difficult to get there (30 per cent) or find the time (29 per cent).

Youth participation in arts, culture and recreation

In 2023 we collaborated with the University of Auckland’s Growing Up in New Zealand project to better understand how young people take part in the cultural system. We investigated the engagement of 12-year-olds with arts, culture and recreation.

This report was the latest from the Growing Up in New Zealand longitudinal research study, which follows the lives of more than 6,000 young people from before birth. This was the first time Growing Up in New Zealand was able to focus on arts, culture and recreation participation in depth, and the research filled a gap in the data and provided insights for Manatū Taonga into how young people are involved in the cultural system.

The analysis showed that 97 per cent of 12 year olds reported participating in some kind of extracurricular activity, including sport, dance and drama, community clubs and groups, arts, craft and technology, and music. The report underscores the importance of providing access to these activities across New Zealand.

These insights allow us to consider what characteristics could enable (or be barriers for) children to have greater access to arts, cultural and recreational activities. Results of the research were made available on Children’s Day 2024 to acknowledge the importance of tamariki and rangatahi as New Zealand’s future artists, performers, mātanga, creatives and athletes.

Some of our findings:

• 15 per cent of young people do kapa haka in their own time
• More than half (57 per cent) of 12 year olds listen to music daily
• Three out of four young people read books weekly
• 88 per cent of 12 year olds regularly do sports in their free time
• 39 per cent of young people regularly paint or draw.

Manatū Taonga supports several initiatives and programmes that enable people to access and participate in cultural activities and experiences.

Digitising the National War Memorial Roll of Honour

Manatū Taonga is responsible for the National War Memorial in Wellington. While the National War Memorial has been closed for seismic strengthening, we have taken the opportunity to digitise the Roll of Honour. The Roll contains the names of all those who have died while serving in the New Zealand armed forces during times of war. The 30,000 names are contained in bound volumes which are on display in the Hall of Memories. It is a place where the names of all New Zealand’s fallen are on display.

Digitising the Roll will allow the names to be made available online, giving access to anyone, not just visitors to the National War Memorial. The Roll is used by researchers to check the details of individuals. This digitisation project will help to preserve the books, as they will be handled less in future.

International festival of Pacific cultures

One of our funded entities Creative New Zealand led the New Zealand delegation to the 13th Festival of Pacific Arts and Culture (FestPAC) in Hawaii in June 2024. FestPAC brought together around 2000 indigenous artists and cultural practitioners, traditional leaders, Pacific Ministers of Culture and youth leaders from 27 Pacific Island countries and territories. The delegation included 85 artists, performers and cultural experts. The delegation continued New Zealand’s tradition of participation since the first FestPAC in Fiji in 1972, ensuring our ongoing engagement across the Pacific family of nations. Manatū Taonga supported government engagement with the event.

After not being held since 2016 years due to COVID-19, this festival was an important opportunity to showcase and promote our unique Māori and Pacific arts, culture and heritage on the world stage, and strengthen our cultural diplomacy and relationships across the region.

A world first in musical literacy for braille users

Supporting our communities to have equitable access to and participation in New Zealand’s arts and cultural heritage is an important aspect of our work. Thirty-three per cent of projects funded by the Cultural Sector Regeneration Fund made a specific contribution to improving access and participation.

In a world first, the Tactile and Technology Literacy Centre (TTLC) developed a braille music curriculum and teaching system. The curriculum enables the teaching of music literacy with existing braille code, ensuring access for any braille reader who wants to learn music.

Our funding enabled TTLC to build its curriculum and set up the infrastructure to support it. TTLC has subsequently showcased its work at two international conferences. The project provided TTLC with opportunities to test the curriculum and make valuable connections with peers globally. TTLC has secured partnerships to help continue its work.

Creating positive experiences for young people through dance

Part of our role is to administer funding for cultural organisations which deliver programmes that provide opportunities for communities to engage with the arts and culture. A good example is the Royal New Zealand Ballet. Creating positive experiences for youth with dance and performances is an important part of the national ballet’s annual programme. It does this through initiatives such as school matinees and Tutus on Tour.

A highlight from the Royal New Zealand Ballet’s youth programme is Ballet in a Box, which is hosted by Due Drop Events Centre in Manukau, Auckland. In September 2023, more than 1700 students from across the Auckland region came to the theatre to experience a mix of classical and contemporary works. Students were offered free workshops where they could learn basic ballet steps and positions, as well as choreography from the show they were about to watch. The performances were narrated in English and te reo Māori. Relaxed performances with a New Zealand sign language interpreter were tailored to students with neurodiversity needs or who experience physical barriers to attending a regular performance. For many students, Ballet in a Box is their first experience of watching dance or any kind of live performance.

The Royal New Zealand Ballet also completed the DANCEwithME programme – a residency with six schools in Auckland. The ballet team visited schools once a week to work with students to create a dance piece to perform for a live audience. For many of the students, this was their first experience of dance and performing. The programme built confidence, fitness, creativity, and the courage to stand up on a stage and perform.

Success descriptor 4 
Cultural activity is valued, supported and nurtured

We have worked to support people participating in cultural activities.

Research shows that New Zealanders’ recognition of the arts and its benefits for society has grown since 2017. Data from the report New Zealanders and the Arts – Ko Aotearoa me ōna Toi 2023 provides the most recent indication of how much New Zealanders value the arts.

How much do you agree or disagree?

The arts contribute positively to our economy (% who agree)

Arts help improve society (% who agree)

Community would be poorer without the arts (% who agree)

The arts help define who we are as New Zealanders (% who agree)

The arts should receive public funding (% who agree)

I feel proud when New Zealand artists succeed overseas (% who agree)

Overall, New Zealand arts are of high quality (% who agree)

The arts should be part of the education of every New Zealander (% who agree)

Additional findings from the 2023 report:

• 74 per cent of adults agreed that the arts create jobs, both in and around the creative industries
• 63 per cent of adults agreed that the arts are good for their mental health and wellbeing
• 53 per cent of adults agreed that the arts teach them things that are useful in their everyday lives
• 67 per cent of adults agreed that the arts can play a role in raising issues facing our society
• 80 per cent of adults agreed that the arts help to develop and foster creativity.

Over the last year, we have contributed to building the capability of our creative industries, made funding changes to maximise cultural and economic benefits, and provided support for kapa haka through funding for Te Matatini, which you can read more about below.

Supporting careers in the arts

Manatū Taonga worked alongside the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) to deliver the final year of the Creative Careers Service pilot programme. This $7.9 million programme delivered over four years helped build the business capability of more than 1200 creatives. It developed skills that will help them build sustainable careers in their chosen field. Participants received up to nine months of support, which included a combination of mentoring, professional development and training. 

A survey of 297 participants found that 79 per cent had diversified their sources of income with the assistance of the programme – and 59 per cent had increased their income from creative activities. While the pilot programme ended in June 2024, the insights gained will inform future work to support sustainable creative careers.

Another initiative that supports careers in the arts is the Artist Resale Royalty scheme, which allows visual artists to benefit from the resale of their original works. Manatū Taonga developed and supported the legislative framework for a New Zealand Artist Resale Royalty Scheme, which you can read more about below.

Developing skills with the Creative Arts and Prisons Initiative

Through our Creative Arts Recovery and Employment Fund we partnered with the Department of Corrections to fund creative arts and cultural wellbeing programmes at 17 prison sites over three years. This initiative helps improve outcomes for prisoners through participation in the arts and provides employment and skill diversification opportunities for programme providers, helping increase the sustainability of their careers. By 30 June 2024, more than 500 prisoners had participated in these programmes. 

The programmes include carving, weaving, creative writing, storytelling, music, performing arts and film making. Many of them are inspired and informed by kaupapa and mātauranga Māori and reflect a holistic approach to healing and restoration. 

Early findings from the first-year evaluation highlight key successes, including building positive relationships, fostering self-expression and awareness, and nurturing meaningful engagement with the programme. The evaluation also identified some issues and challenges in delivering arts programmes in prisons, which will be used to improve the delivery of programmes in the future.

Maximising government investment in the screen sector

We are responsible for the domestic part of the New Zealand Screen Production Rebate, which supports the screen sector by encouraging domestic production activity.

During the past year we made changes to maximise the cultural and economic benefits of government investment in New Zealand’s screen sector. Domestic screen productions can now access the rebate alongside and in addition to funding from NZ On Air, Te Māngai Pāho and the New Zealand Film Commission.

These changes sparked a shift in the funding landscape that has allowed more private investment to partner with government to create bigger-budget productions that showcase New Zealand here and around the world. As a result, we’ve seen an increase in the amount of high-quality local content telling authentic New Zealand stories for all New Zealanders.

Enabling regional decision-making and growth in kapa haka

One of our funded organisations is Te Matatini, the national organisation for kapa haka in Aotearoa New Zealand. Through Budget 2023, Te Matatini received a boost (in addition to baseline funding) to enable it to build a rohe-based kapa haka network.

The rohe development model nurtures and supports kapa haka at a regional level to achieve intergenerational growth, enhance wellbeing and economic sustainability, and enable the groups in each rohe to make self-determined decisions. Investment in rohe-based kapa haka also grows financial and operational capacity in the regions, strengthening kapa haka for the future.

Showcasing contemporary New Zealand culture internationally

The arts and creative sectors are strong contributors to New Zealand’s economy and help to amplify New Zealand’s international presence through cultural diplomacy.

We administer the Cultural Diplomacy International Programme (CDIP), which funds a New Zealand presence at cultural events and activities taking place overseas, helping boost New Zealand’s profile and our economic, trade, tourism, diplomatic and cultural interests.

The inaugural South by Southwest (SXSW) Sydney festival held in October 2023 presented an opportunity to showcase contemporary New Zealand culture and creativity across the gaming, screen, technology and music sectors to audiences and markets from Australasia, Asia, North America and the United Kingdom. CDIP funds supported Creative New Zealand, partnering with the New Zealand Music Commission and Te Māngai Pāho, to deliver a cross-sector activation that was accessible to the more than 287,000 people who attendedSXSW Sydney.

A cross-government CDIP Steering Group including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, Tourism New Zealand, Te Puni Kōkiri, Education New Zealand and NZ Story led the programme alongside Manatū Taonga.

Success descriptor 5 
The cultural system is resilient and sustainable

We support Aotearoa New Zealand to have a resilient and sustainable cultural system. Growth in the arts and creative sector over the past year indicates its resilience.

A sustainable cultural system has an important part to play in supporting the wellbeing of New Zealanders, now and in the future. Resilience and sustainability are a consistent focus for our work, which includes policy development, looking at how different sectors are operating, and delivering targeted investment in the sector.

The arts and creative sector’s contribution to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew by 5.3 per cent to $16.3 billion, 4.3 per cent of the total economy, in the year to March 2023. Growth in the arts and creative sector was greater than growth in the economy as a whole, suggesting the sector has been somewhat resilient despite ongoing economic challenges. Employment in the sector has grown overall, but continues to be fragile in some areas.

In the year to March 2023:

• the number of businesses operating in the arts and creative sector grew by 3.1 per cent
• primary employment in the arts and creative sector grew by 2.9 per cent, compared to national job growth of 2.8 per cent
• the arts and creative sector continued to have a high rate of self-employment (31 per cent) – nearly twice the rate in the total economy (15.9 per cent)
• people whose primary job was in the arts and creative sector, across all roles, earned on average $76,300, compared to national average earnings of $70,100. The average arts worker earned $63,700.

A recent report commissioned by Toi Mai Workforce Development Council highlighted that although arts workers have high levels of life satisfaction, they continue to face ongoing challenges relating to career sustainability. The average earnings of those surveyed were 20 per cent below the average earnings of non-arts workers.

Manatū Taonga has progressed work that will allow hundreds of New Zealand visual artists to benefit from the resale of their works, funded multiple initiatives that contribute to sector resilience and sustainability, and supported funded entities to grow talent.

We also have a responsibility to preserve and protect our heritage and historic assets. We have invested in cultural infrastructure, actively promoted best practice in the heritage sector, and upgraded our tools to support the maintenance of historic war graves and memorials.

Agency appointed to enable visual artists to receive resale royalties

In the past year, Manatū Taonga developed and supported the legislative framework for a New Zealand Artist Resale Royalty Scheme.

The Artist Resale Royalty scheme allows visual artists (or their estates) to benefit from the resale of their original works in New Zealand and reciprocating countries, aligning New Zealand with common international practice.

The Resale Right for Visual Artists Act passed in August 2023 and the Resale Right for Visual Artists Regulations were agreed by the Executive Council in April 2024. The Ministry undertook wide-ranging agency consultation on these regulations in July–August 2023 and January–February 2024.

In May 2024, Copyright Licensing New Zealand was selected as the collection agency, taking responsibility for collecting and distributing the royalties. The scheme will potentially make more than a thousand secondary art market sales each year liable to pay a royalty, and hundreds of New Zealand artists will benefit.

As the value of their work grows, the scheme will benefit generations of artists and help them sustain their careers – contributing directly to a more resilient cultural system.

Funding for initiatives to build sustainability and revenue

We funded a range of initiatives focused on building sustainability, resilience and revenue streams in the cultural sectors through the time-limited COVID-19 recovery programme. The benefits of many of these initiatives continue to be felt.

Funding supported the development of digital tools for the performing arts sector – enabling deeper engagement with arts experiences and reaching wider audiences, including people overseas. Hackman Limited, InWorld Limited and Dot Dot Limited were funded to develop tools to help practitioners present their work in virtual environments and create digital hybrid art experiences. InWorld’s mobile application, Pickpath, enhanced arts experiences at CubaDupa, Auckland Writers Festival and Auckland Pride.

Funding provided to the Little Family Foundation (BIG FAN) helped build the capability of emerging musicians in songwriting and music production. With access to state-of-the-art recording facilities and increased opportunities for live performance, musicians have grown their audiences and gained tangible career benefits. The programme ‘BIG FAN Live’ enables musicians to host a gig at no cost, with all ticket revenue going to the artist. One emerging artist achieved a sell-out show, the revenue from which enabled them to produce their first EP.

Funding provided to the Creative Capital Arts Trust supported sustainable career development for emerging and independent performing artists in Wellington. A series of practitioner workshops focused on developing capability and mentorship. More than 130 participants attended the workshops, and an online hub of information and resources was developed for a network of New Zealand Fringe Festival artists.

Developing New Zealand musical talent

Part of our role is to administer funding for cultural agencies which deliver programmes that support our talent. The New Zealand Music Commission is a good example; it was able to attend five international music trade events (in Australia, Spain, North America and the United Kingdom) in the past financial year. These events gave for 47 New Zealand artists the opportunity to showcase their talent on an international stage.

The Music Commission’s annual NZ Music Month Summit brought together those in the music sector (including 24 interns from the Industry Internship Programme) for upskilling seminars and discussions, and to network with others.

Supporting New Zealand’s heritage

This year saw strengthening and repair work start on New Zealand’s National War Memorial Carillon in Wellington, one of the country’s most significant buildings.

This work will make the building safe for distinguished visitors and the public and protect it from the threat of significant damage in an earthquake. It will ensure that the National War Memorial continues to be an important place for New Zealanders to remember those who have served in the armed forces and reflect on how conflict has helped shape our national identity.

Through the Regional Cultural and Heritage Fund we have supported two cultural institutions in Te Waipounamu, the South Island. The Forrester Art Gallery in Oamaru is building an extension to its heritage-listed building. The extension will enhance collection care and accessibility, and provide both more space for exhibitions and climate-controlled storage for their 2500-item collection of New Zealand art.

Canterbury Museum is going through one of Aotearoa’s largest museum redevelopment projects in recent history. This includes earthquake-strengthening its heritage buildings and the addition of a large basement storage facility which will enable the museum to securely care for its significant collections for future generations.

Previously funded projects continued to develop, with work on Rotorua Museum’s redevelopment project starting in 2024. The renewal of the museum will create jobs and generate economic benefits across the Bay of Plenty region. The restoration of one of Rotorua’s most iconic buildings will support the city’s reputation as a world-class tourism destination, and ensure that the stories and taonga of its residents are accessible to all.

The Ministry also supports New Zealand’s heritage at a system level by contributing to the government’s reform of resource management legislation. This year we supported the first two phases of this reform, including by advising the Environment Select Committee on the Fast Track Approvals Bill.

Promoting best-practice government heritage conservation

Government agencies play a key role as owners and managers of significant cultural heritage places. These include sites of significance to Māori and Moriori, archaeological sites, heritage buildings and monuments. Many of these places are recognised on the New Zealand Heritage List / Rārangi Kōrero and protected by local authorities under the Resource Management Act. 

During the 2023/24 financial year we updated the policy that directs government agencies in how to conserve and manage heritage places in their care. We contracted Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga to provide webinars to promote the policy. The topics covered included how heritage values apply to Crown agencies, asset management, managing change, conservation planning and complying with heritage legislation. The webinars were attended by approximately 180 people and have received more than 400 views online.

Preserving our historic assets with a new management system

We are responsible for more than 4000 assets (national memorials and graves – both war and historic) across 400 sites in New Zealand, the Pacific, and around the world. This portfolio is large and complex, and we want to make maintaining and preserving our assets easier and more cost-efficient.

During the 2023/24 financial year we started work to move to a purpose-built asset management system. This system will integrate all aspects of our asset management information and processes and improve our ability to identify, protect and conserve significant cultural heritage for current and future generations

Performance information for appropriations 
Kōrero whakatutukinga mō ngā tāpuinga pūtea

Vote Arts, Culture and Heritage
- Policy advice, monitoring of funded agencies and ministerial servicing

Scope: The overarching purpose of this appropriation is to provide advice and other support to ministers in discharging their policy decision-making and other portfolio responsibilities.

Policy advice

The provision of advice (including second-opinion advice and contributions to policy advice led by other agencies) to support decision-making by ministers on government policy matters relating to arts, culture, heritage and broadcasting.

Monitoring of funded agencies

Monitoring the Crown’s interests in sector agencies.

Ministerial servicing

Providing negotiated services to the Minister and Associate Ministers for Arts, Culture and Heritage, and the Minister for Broadcasting, Communications and Digital Media.

How well we delivered it

This section provides an assessment of our delivery against the performance measures set out in the Information Supporting the Estimates for 2023/24.

Policy advice, monitoring of funded agencies and ministerial servicing

Significant judgements involved in the measurement, aggregation and presentation of the result.

The reported result is the average of the two ‘overall performance’ measures as rated by the four portfolio Ministers and one Parliamentary Under-Secretary over the 2023/24 financial year: ‘I have confidence in the policy (or advice) provided; and, ‘I have trust in the officials I engage with from the Ministry’

Policy advice

Note 1 — Ministerial satisfaction measures
Ministerial satisfaction is calculated in accordance with Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet guidance. This results in a ministerial satisfaction score between 1 and 5, with 1 being ‘Never’ and 5 being ‘Always’. The Budget standard of 4 indicates that the minister(s) were satisfied ‘Most of the time’

Note 2 — Ministerial servicing — correspondence
The Ministry uses the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research Inc (NZIER) to assess papers. NZIER uses the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet’s Policy Quality Framework to make its assessment. Papers are assessed on a scale of 1–5. An overall score of 3.31 means the Ministry is meeting the standards of the Policy Quality Framework.

Monitoring of funded agencies

Note 1 — Ministerial satisfaction measures 
Ministerial satisfaction is calculated in accordance with Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet guidance. This results in a ministerial satisfaction score between 1 and 5, with 1 being ‘Never’ and 5 being ‘Always’. The Budget standard of 4 indicates that the minister(s) were satisfied ‘Most of the time’

Note 2 — Average quality of new board member governance workshops 
The Ministry ran a board induction in 2023/2024 but did not receive any responses to the evaluation survey. The Ministry intends to run further induction sessions in 2024/25 and will seek evaluations after each session.

Ministerial servicing

Note 1—Ministerial satisfaction measures
Ministerial satisfaction is calculated in accordance with Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet guidance. This results in a ministerial satisfaction score between 1 and 5, with 1 being ‘Never’ and 5 being ‘Always’. The Budget standard of 4 indicates that the minister(s) were satisfied ‘Most of the time’

Vote Arts, Culture and Heritage 
- Heritage services

Scope: Management of new memorial projects, national monuments, war and historic graves; promotion of cultural events; administration of legislation and grants; research, writing and publication of New Zealand history and reference works, including Te Ara – The Encyclopedia of New Zealand.

How well we delivered it –This section provides an assessment of our delivery against the performance measures set out in the Information Supporting the Estimates for 2022/23.

Administration of legislation to protect New Zealand and taonga Māori and cultural heritage

Note 1—Upheld appeals on export applications 
Applicants may appeal to the Minister against a determination of the chief executive. An upheld appeal may indicate an issue with the Manatū Taonga process.

Significant judgements involved in the measurement, aggregation and presentation of the result

The reported result for suitable care and custody arrangements for newly found taonga tūturu is determined by a set criterion. For example, a public museum, a qualified archaeologist, an iwi, hapū or marae, a qualified conservator. Each care and custody arrangement is determined on a case-by-case basis.

Maintain war graves and access to memorials and other places of national significance

Significant judgements involved in the measurement, aggregation and presentation of the result

The 2023/24 agreed plan for the National Erebus Memorial focused on the selection of a new preferred site for the memorial and expanding the online content about the passengers and crew. At year end, two potential sites had been identified but required further stakeholder engagement before moving to the next stage of engagement, design and construction, which may take a further 12–24 months. Additional stories from Erebus family members and members of Operation Overdue, as well as new educational resources, have been developed and uploaded onto Ministry websites.

Note 1 
Teachers were surveyed as to whether their experience at Pukeahu increased their students’ understanding or awareness of New Zealand’s history, heritage, nationhood or citizenship. This resulted in a score between 1 and 5 with 1 being ‘Strongly disagree’, 3 being neutral and 5 being ‘Strongly agree’. The budget standard of 4 means that teachers surveyed ‘Agreed’ or ‘Strongly agreed’ with this statement.

Collect, preserve, and provide information on New Zealand and Māori history, society and culture

Significant judgements involved in the measurement, aggregation and presentation of the result

The management of the annual history programme is assessed on website content delivered, the completion of funding rounds and the hosting of school visits at Pukeahu National War Memorial.

Manatū Taonga websites include the Ministry’s corporate site, NZHistory, Te Ara, 28 Māori Battalion, Vietnam NZ, Nga Tapuwae, WW100, Walking with an Anzac, Canterbury Earthquake Memorial and the Heritage Earthquake Upgrade Incentive Programme (EQUIP) websites

Note 1—Te Tai Whakaea Treaty Settlement Stories 
For this measure we survey Iwi involved in the programme to ascertain whether their research and publishing partnership with Te Tai increased their young people’s understanding or awareness of their history, identity and treaty settlement journey, and the iwi’s capability to preserve and share their stories. We were unable to undertake this survey as the Ministry’s current Te Tai projects were still in progress at the end of the financial year. The survey is undertaken at the completion of each project.

Note 2 — Annual number of page impressions 
The annual number of page impressions for the Ministry’s websites were under our Budget standard of 30 million due to changes made to some Ministry websites this financial year, including the decommissioning and consolidation of some stand-alone web platforms and the launch of a new, streamlined corporate site.

Promotion of cultural events and significant commemorations

Note 1 — Ministerial satisfaction measures 
Ministerial satisfaction is calculated in accordance with Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet guidance. This results in a ministerial satisfaction score between 1 and 5, with 1 being ‘Never’ and 5 being ‘Always’. The Budget standard of 4 indicates that the minister(s) were satisfied ‘Most of the time’

Vote Arts, Culture and Heritage
– Ministry for Culture and Heritage Capital Expenditure PLA

Scope: Purchase and development of assets by and for the use of the Ministry for Culture and Heritage, as authorized by section 24(1) of the Public Finance Act 1989

How well we delivered it

This section provides an assessment of our delivery against the performance measures set out in the Information Supporting the Estimates for 2023/24.

Vote Arts, Culture and Heritage
- Cultural Diplomacy International Programme

Scope: Management and delivery of an international cultural diplomacy programme through a series of projects and activities primarily focused on Asia and other regions where New Zealand is pursuing free-trade agreements.

How well we delivered it

This section provides an assessment of our delivery against the performance measures set out in the Information Supporting the Estimates for 2023/24.

Cultural Diplomacy International Programm

Note 1 — Ministerial satisfaction measures 
Ministerial satisfaction is calculated in accordance with Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet guidance. This results in a ministerial satisfaction score between 1 and 5, with 1 being ‘Never’ and 5 being ‘Always’. The Budget standard of 4 indicates that the minister(s) were satisfied ‘Most of the time’

Vote Arts, Culture and Heritage 
- Purchase advice and monitoring of sport and recreation Crown entities

Scope: Provision of purchase advice and monitoring of Sport New Zealand and Drug Free Sport New Zealand, including advice in relation to appointments to boards.

How well we delivered it

This section provides an assessment of our delivery against the performance measures set out in the Information Supporting the Estimates for 2023/24.

Purchase advice and monitoring of sport and recreation crown entities

Note 1 — Ministerial satisfaction measures 
Ministerial satisfaction is calculated in accordance with Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet guidance. This results in a ministerial satisfaction score between 1 and 5, with 1 being ‘Never’ and 5 being ‘Always’. The Budget standard of 4 indicates that the minister(s) were satisfied ‘Most of the time’

Our organisation
Tō mātau whakahaere

Moving through change
Te kauneke atu i te huringa

Since 2020 Manatū Taonga has changed how we work and what we deliver to the cultural sectors across Aotearoa.

COVID-19 presented an opportunity to administer landmark investment in the arts, culture and heritage sectors through the Covid Recovery Programme. Alongside the Stronger Public Media initiative, we saw an increase in our headcount and more specialist roles. During the past financial year, the Ministry has undergone a significant change programme which focused on a review of our operating model and included a process of structural change. The change process was designed to better align our organisational structure with our strategic outcomes and recognised the cessation of the Covid Recovery Programme and Stronger Public Media and the constrained fiscal environment.

The change process was divided into two phases. The first phase focused on reducing duplication, bringing together and strengthening our Māori–Crown capabilities, and growing a stronger strategic centre.

The second phase aligned our structure with our strategy by focusing on creating a more flexible organisation, strengthening our insights and evidence capabilities, right-sizing the Ministry in the right places and operating with a reduced budget.

These structural changes are not the end of the Ministry’s journey. We will continue to focus on embedding our operating model, maturing our operational capabilities, and supporting our people to work in new and different ways to deliver outcomes that align with our strategy.

This will ensure that the Ministry continues to be a trusted advisor to government, using our role to leverage the cultural system to achieve better outcomes for all New Zealanders.

Workforce statistics
Tatauranga kāhui kaimahi

While we have been through a significant change process and our kaimahi numbers have reduced, there have also been some positive changes in our workforce:

• The proportion of fixed-term kaimahi fell from 18.2% to 6% in the past year, as some positions were made permanent. The average length of service of kaimahi rose from 3.9 years in 2022 to 5.3 years in 2024. This shows the commitment our kaimahi have to their roles at Manatū Taonga and to the public service. Four kaimahi celebrated 30 years’ tenure in the public service during the year.
• While we have a high proportion of female employees, in the past year the percentage of male kaimahi increased from 34.3% to 39.1%. Despite this increase in male staff, our gender pay gap of 4.9% remained well below the public service average of 7.1%.
• Although the number of our tier 3 leaders fell, their diversity increased, with 24% of our tier 3 leaders being Māori and 6% Pacific Peoples.
• The average age of our workforce in the Ministry has risen to 43.4 years, up from 40.7 years in 2022. This aligns closely with the average age of public servants, which has remained steady at 44 years over the past two years.

Employee numbers

Number of employees, full time equivalent (FTE) and headcount (HC) as at 30 June.

• Headcount: 142 (down 39.55 from 2023)
• Full time equivalent: 151 (down 41 from 2023)

Turnover

Core unplanned turnover for the year. This covers permanent employees only and excludes cessations due to the ending of fixed-term employment.

• Turnover: 18.18% (up 1.48% from 2023)
• Public Service turnover in 2023: 15.9%

Tenure

Proportion of fixed-term employees and ongoing tenure (permanent) employees as at 30 June.

• Permanent: 94% (compared to 81.8% in 2023) 
• Fixed term: 6% (compared to 18.2% in 2023
• Public Service 2023: Permanent 93.6%; Fixed term 6.4%

Length of service

• Average length of service for permanent employees by number of years as at 30 June: 5.3 years (0.5 increase on 2023).
• The Public service average in 2023 was 7.9.

Service length breakdown

Average length of service for permanent employees by number of years as at 30 June.

Age

• Average age of employees as at 30 June 2023: 43.4 (up 1.3 from 2023)
• Average age of employees for the Public Service as at 30 June 2023: 44

Age breakdown

Distribution of employees by age as at 30 June.

Gender

Proportion of females and males as at 30 June. The Ministry asks new employees to complete a personnel and payroll details form. The form includes a gender diverse option for the question, ‘What gender do you identify as?’, alongside female and male.

• Female: 60.3%  (65.1% in 2023)
• Male: 39.1%  (34.9% in 2023)
• Another gender: 0.6% (0.5% in 2023)

Public Service at 30 June 2023: Female, 62.2%; Male, 37.3%; Another gender, 0.5%

Annual leave and sick leave

Average annual leave balance per employee as at 30 June and the average sick leave taken per employee during the year, including leave for care of dependants.

• Sick leave: 7.6 (up from 7.1 in 2023)
• Annual leave: 12 (down from 20.4 in 2023)
• Public Service at June 2023: Sick leave, 9.5; Annual leave, 17.6.

Ethnicity

Ethnicity* of employees as at 30 June.

* Ethnicity numbers may not add up to 100% as people can identify with more than one ethnicity.

Manager information

Gender and ethnicity of leadership at Manatū Taonga as at 30 June. Tier 2 managers are those that report directly to the Tumu Whakarae. Tier 3 managers are any other people managers.

Gender

Tier 3 leaders

• Female: 47% (8 leaders)
• Male: 53% (9 leaders)

Tier 2 leaders

• Female: 60%. (3 leaders)
• Male: 40% (1 leader)

Overall leadership

• Female: 55% (12 leaders)
• Male: 45% (10 leaders)

Ethnicity*

Tier 3 leaders

• European: 71% (12 leaders)
• Māori: 24% (4 leaders)
• Pacific: 6% (1 leader)

Tier 2 leaders

• European: 80% (4 leaders)
• Māori:  20% (1 leaders)

Overall leadership

• European: 73% (16 leaders)
• Māori: 23% (5 leaders)
• Pacific: 5% (1 leader)

* Ethnicity numbers may not add up to 100% as people can identify with more than one ethnicity.

Diversity, equity and inclusion
Kanorautanga me te whai a wāhitanga

A diverse and inclusive workforce enables Manatū Taonga to better promote the diversity of Aotearoa in the cultural sectors.

Manatū Taonga is strengthened by the diversity of our workforce. We recognise and value the importance of different perspectives and insights when supporting and promoting cultural sectors that reflects today’s Aotearoa New Zealand.

Equity and inclusion

Kia Toipoto is the Public Service Pay Gaps Action Plan. It focuses on closing gender, Māori, Pacific and Ethnic pay gaps. Papa Pounamu is a programme designed to strengthen workplace diversity, inclusion and cultural competency, with the goal of achieving better outcomes for all groups. These programmes share common goals which are important to our Ministry and our people.

Our Kia Toipoto Action Plan 2022–2025 was created with representatives from our staff networks and the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi (PSA). Their feedback informed the focus of the Ministry’s equity and inclusion activities on leadership, representation, and eliminating bias and discrimination.

This year we focused on obtaining meaningful data about our people. We have 100% disclosure of ethnicity, and we encourage employees to disclose their gender identity and pronouns, which allows us to improve our monthly and quarterly reporting of these matters.

The Ministry monitoring recruitment closely for much of the year as we worked through a programme of organisational change. Sixteen positions were filled by a diverse group of people:

• 75% women
• 31% Māori
• 19% Pacific Peoples
• 50% European

Gender pay gap

A key contributor to our work on minimising the gender pay gap is our step-based remuneration framework. This has been embedded within the Ministry over the last 18 months and gives clarity to relativity data for recruiting managers. This, in turn, drives equality and fairness for people joining or progressing within the Ministry. As we are a relatively small organisation, our pay gaps fluctuate as individuals start and leave. We remain committed to eliminating all pay gaps.

Gap between average full-time-equivalent salary of women and men on 30 June 2024: 4.9% (up 0.1%).

Learning and development

Development conversations at Manatū Taonga encourage reflection on recent successes and learnings, with a focus on activities that build personal wellbeing. In discussion with their leaders, our people agree to individual delivery and development goals that are recorded in a plan. Learning needs are identified and met through coaching, funded individual learning and development activities. The Ministry’s Study Assistance Programme provides additional financial support and study leave to successful applicants.

Flexible working

Nearly everyone at Manatū Taonga utilises some form of flexible or hybrid working. Flexible working is a characteristic of our culture. Our individual arrangements support working parents, graduated return-to-work programmes, external study and other goals. This inclusive approach helps us attract and retain the diversity of skills and leadership we need to carry out our work programmes.

Mitigation of bias

Understanding bias and countering its impact is part of the Ministry Induction Programme. Building this core capability and providing the language for the discussion of bias ensures our people are alert, conscientious and have the confidence to call out risks to equity, whether perceived or actual.

Our new Applicant Tracking System provides data that will give us a deeper understanding of the people who apply for our vacancies and the effectiveness of specific advertising methods in attracting the range of talent we need. Using diverse interview panels adds strength to our recruitment decisions and regular reporting helps leaders monitor the representativeness of their business groups.

Employee-led networks

This year, we started a New Parents Network to provide connection and support for working parents with tamariki aged under five. The group aims to learn from shared experiences of managing the demands of parenting and working life. Our Deputy Secretaries sponsor and support, our networks which include: Ngā Uri o Kiwa (Māori and Pacific peoples), Rainbow Network and Te Ata Māhina – Women’s Network. Networks enhance employee experience and engagement and are valued channels for collaboration within Manatū Taonga.

Relationships with iwi Māori
Ngā hononga ki ngā iwi Māori

We work with other sector agencies and iwi, imi and hapū Māori to meet our shared Treaty settlement commitments for the benefit of all New Zealanders.

In 2023/2024, the Ministry brought together our key Māori–Crown partnership activities in a new group, Te Hononga–Māori Crown Partnerships, to create a centre of excellence for our work with iwi Māori. Te Hononga supports and works alongside others in the Ministry and our sector to ensure we continue to build and honour our relationships with iwi by delivering on our Treaty settlement commitments. Te Hononga also ensures that we are meeting our legal obligations under the Protected Objects Act in relation to taonga tūturu, and that we are working with Māori in a way that supports their cultural aspirations and strengthens our national identity.

Treaty settlement commitments

Settlements of historical Treaty of Waitangi Claims (Treaty settlements) are intended to address the historical grievances of iwi, imi and hapū that resulted from the Crown’s breaches of Te Tiriti o Waitangi/the Treaty of Waitangi. 
Through Treaty settlements, the Crown acknowledges and apologises for these breaches. Settlements also provide cultural, financial and commercial redress in recognition of past wrongs, and can form a foundation for future partnerships between Māori and the Crown.

Manatū Taonga supports the facilitation of Treaty settlement claims by working with other sector agencies and iwi Māori on partnership agreements and commitments relating to the culture and heritage aspirations of iwi Māori and the care of taonga.

Our role in the Treaty settlement process

Through the settlement process, we engage with iwi claimant groups and their post-settlement governance entities (PSGEs) which choose relationship redress as part of their overall Treaty settlement package. The Ministry enters into relationship agreements with iwi and hapū through the Treaty settlement process. The purpose of these agreements is to:

• formally establish a relationship with iwi and hapū
• outline relevant functions of the Ministry, and
• enhance and support the taonga, culture and heritage aspirations of iwi.

Three main types of relationship agreements are used by the Ministry:

• Accords/Protocols
• Taonga Tūturu Protocols
• Whakaaetanga Tiaki Taonga (Whakaaetanga).

The Whakaaetanga, implemented in 2017, is a collective agreement that covers redress provided by the Ministry, the Department of Internal Affairs, Archives New Zealand, the National Library of New Zealand, the Museum of New Zealand (Te Papa Tongarewa), Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga (HNZPT) and Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision. 

Although the Whakaaetanga is now the preferred redress instrument used in Treaty settlement negotiations with iwi and hapū, the Ministry also continues to work through our existing Accords, Protocols and Taonga Tūturu Protocols with settled groups. Relationship agreements include commitments around the administration of legislation and other responsibilities of the Ministry, such as:

• the Protected Objects Act 1975 claims process in relation to ngā taonga tūturu
• administration of national monuments, war graves and historical graves in the relevant rohe
• history research and publications
• arts, culture and heritage board appointments opportunities
• consultation on major policy and legislation
• registration of iwi as expert examiners and collectors of ngā taonga tūturu.

We currently have around 67 relationship agreements – a similar number to much larger agencies – because many iwi and hapū have an interest in our sector. The oldest of these agreements dates back to 2002.

He Korowai Whakamana

In December 2022, Cabinet agreed to the He Korowai Whakamana framework for achieving oversight of Treaty settlement commitments and ensuring a consistent approach to addressing and resolving settlement issues. The He Korowai Whakamana framework:

• provides guidance and tools to support settlement delivery
• requires core Crown agencies to track the status of their commitments using Te Haeata, and report on these from financial year 2023/24 onwards
• establishes an issue resolution process for post-settlement governance entities and Crown agencies.

Current status of Manatū Taonga’s Treaty settlement commitments

The figures below set out the status of all the commitments in our relationship agreements. This is the first year the Ministry has reported on these commitments in our annual report, so this provides a baseline against which to measure our progress in meeting them.  

As of 30 June 2024, the Ministry was responsible for 216 Treaty settlement commitments as set out in our relationship agreements. Less than half of the commitments (91, or 42%) are complete. A further 42 (19%) are on track, while three (1%) have yet to be triggered. There are 80 (37%) Treaty settlement commitments that can be considered as having delivery issues. Included in this category are commitments which we have judged ourselves to have not fully met. The most common reason for this judgment is that a review of the agreement has not been undertaken both parties.  

The Ministry is working to resolve these delivery issues. We have started training all staff to understand our commitments and how they apply to the work we do, and have implemented regular reporting on and monitoring of our progress towards meeting our Treaty settlement commitments. We are committed to improving our planning and processes to ensure that we fully meet our Treaty settlement commitments.

Our progress

• Yet to be triggered: 3 (1%)
• On track: 42 (19%)
• Delivery issues: 80 (37%)
• Complete: 91 (42%)

Yet to be triggered

The responsible entities are yet to start on the delivery of the commitments. This may be because delivery is conditional on other commitments, or is to be completed in a timeframe that is yet to be triggered. For example, for participation arrangements over natural resources, the first meeting of a statutory board may have not yet been held because other participating iwi have not yet finalised their Treaty settlements.

On track

The responsible entities have the systems in place or have started the actions required to deliver the commitments and are on track to complete them within any timeframe that has been specified. For example, the organisation has a system in place to manage the Right of First Refusal process.

Delivery issues

The responsible entities have made attempts to complete the actions required to fulfil the commitments. However complicating factors have meant that they are unlikely to be able to deliver the commitments as required (including within any timeframe specified). For example, there are delivery issues because the disclosure information for a Deferred Selection Property was not provided in the timeframe specified in the deed.

Complete

The responsible entities have completed the actions required to deliver the commitments. For example, all letters of introduction have been sent.

Whāinga Amorangi Public Service Cultural Capability Plan Phase One: Empowering People

In 2021 each core Crown agency developed a Whāinga Amorangi – Phase One plan which set out how they will build the Māori–Crown relations capability of their people in a way that is relevant to their role and function. The Ministry has continued to progress our plan primarily through the implementation of Te Ara Reo, the Ministry’s Māori Language Plan, as well as by seeking and supporting opportunities for staff to improve their understanding of New Zealand history and te Tiriti.

Te Ara Reo (2020) has two main goals:

• We will be able to conduct our core business in te reo Māori and English in a culturally competent and safe way by 2040, and will normalise the use of te reo Māori within our organisation.
• 85% of New Zealanders will value te reo Māori as a key part of national identity by 2040 – our role is as lead co-convenor of the Crown’s Māori language plan, Maihi Karauna.

Manatū Taonga raises the visibility of te reo Māori by:

• using bilingual signs at our office and for any new war memorials we manage
• using bilingual job titles and bilingual text in our job advertisements and position descriptions
• using bilingual email greetings and signoffs
• using te reo Māori in our external websites
• normalising the use of karakia, waiata and te reo in day-to-day interactions between our staff
• organising special events to celebrate Te Wiki o te Reo Māori and Matariki .

Manatū Taonga shows it values te reo Māori by:

• maintaining a working relationship with Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori
• remunerating staff for Māori language competency
• ensuring that te reo Māori translations used by our organisation in external communications are quality assured by certified translators/interpreters.

Activities undertaken by the Ministry during this financial year to make progress towards these goals included:

• Matariki 2024 – we partnered with Te Rūnaka o Ōtākou and Ngāi Tahu iwi to deliver the national hautapu ceremony, and with Te Māngai Pāho to deliver the national broadcast of the hautapu ceremony and ensure that digital content supporting wide and diverse participation in Matariki was accessible to all New Zealanders. We also partnered with Te Puni Kōkiri to fund events that encouraged communities to participate in Matariki activities and practices. Matariki provides an important focus for the normalisation of te reo Māori by connecting New Zealanders to Māori culture, knowledge and practice.
• Pukeahu National War Memorial Park – we provide bilingual interpretation for all memorials at the park and partner with Taranaki Whānui to ensure that ceremonies conducted there are consistent with tikanga Māori, and that visitors to the park have an opportunity to connect with iwi.
• Manatū Taonga’s corporate website – we relaunched our corporate website with bilingual headings, titles, landing pages and content.
• Te Konohete – we joined with Pouhere Taonga Heritage New Zealand and Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision to celebrate Māori culture and participate in Te Konohete, the Public Sector Māori Cultural Festival.

Improving the capability of our people

We present in visual form below the findings of the Ministry’s latest staff survey on staff confidence in their use of te reo and understanding of New Zealand history. 66.1% of staff surveyed felt that their confidence in using te reo had improved in the last 12 months, while 79.8% of staff surveyed felt that their understanding of New Zealand history and te Tiriti had improved.

These improvements were due to formal training offered by an external provider, informal internal learning, and on-the-job development.

Improvement in condidence - te reo Māori

• Significant improvement: 0.9%
• Moderate improvement: 15.6%
• Minor improvement: 49.5%
• No improvement: 33.9%

Improvement in confidence - New Zealand history / Te Tiriti o Waitangi

• Significant improvement: 7.3%
• Moderate improvement: 27.5%
• Minor improvement: 45%
• No improvement: 20.2%

Responding to climate change
Uruparenga ki te huringa āhuarangi

Climate change is having a significant impact on Aotearoa New Zealand and its arts, culture and heritage. Our unique ways of life, identity, and the values and traditions that make us who we are, are at risk of being altered or lost.

As the principal advisor on the cultural system, Manatū Taonga has a role in advising the government on climate risks to Aotearoa’s culture and heritage, and supporting the system to respond and adapt so that culture thrives in a sustainable way into the future. Manatū Taonga also has a role in advising Ministers on how the Ministry can help meet the government’s climate change priorities.

Working with the arts, culture and heritage sector to respond to climate change

Manatū Taonga plays a central role in supporting the cultural sectors to respond and adapt to the effects of climate change. As the steward of the cultural system, Manatū Taonga engages with sector organisations to support their voluntary actions to prepare for the future. Through our work with these organisations, we also gain valuable insights into the direct impact of climate change on our sector.

National Adaptation Plan

Manatū Taonga is responsible for leading four actions in the National Adaptation Plan 2022–2028:

• Action 3.26 Produce guidance for disaster risk management for cultural heritage.
• Action 3.27 Develop a framework for assessing the exposure and vulnerability of cultural assets / taonga to climate change.
• Action 5.8 Support kaitiaki communities to adapt and conserve taonga/cultural assets.
• Action 7.1 Research how cultural heritage contributes to community wellbeing and climate change adaptation.

In 2023, Manatū Taonga commissioned Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research to undertake research into climate change risk and adaptation tools for culture and heritage. The resulting report, available on the Manatū Taonga website, helped progress National Adaptation Plan Actions 3.26, 3.27 and 5.8 by developing a baseline understanding of the current state and potential gaps. Options for future delivery of our National Adaptation Plan actions, as well as other climate change impacts and opportunities for the cultural system, will be assessed in late 2024.

Advice to other government agencies

Manatū Taonga provides advice on the arts, culture and heritage dimensions of cross-agency climate change policy development. This includes providing input into briefings to Ministers, Cabinet papers, international conventions and agreements, and Select Committee processes. This work includes supporting the development of the government’s next Emissions Reduction Plan, an overarching government climate adaptation framework, and legislation.

Carbon Neutral Government Programme

Manatū Taonga is committed to meeting its obligations under the Carbon Neutral Government Programme to measure, manage and reduce our emissions.

Our emissions arise from our core operations, as well as other activities on behalf of the Crown within our span of control. These include care for our portfolio of memorials, war and other graves, and the conservation of newly found taonga tūturu.

Manatū Taonga has agreed to reduce our gross emissions compared to our 2019/20 baseline by 21 per cent by 2025 and by 42 per cent by 2030.

In 2023/24 our emissions were 165 tCO2e, 37% below our 2019/20 baseline and 19% below our emissions in 2022/2. These measurements were independently verified by Toitū Envirocare.

The main driver behind the decrease in the past year was reduced travel. Domestic travel was lower due to the wind-down of the Covid-19 and new public media entity programmes. Planned international travel for representation at meetings of international cultural institutions, cultural diplomacy, and maintaining overseas war graves did not occur. Travel is also typically lower during an election year.

These reductions were partially offset by a significant increase in emissions related to staff commuting. These emissions are estimated through a survey of staff. We are analysing the factors behind this change, which may be due to changes in staff behaviour, or to improved survey methodology.

The main controllable factor in our emissions is travel. Much of our work relies on maintaining relationships across the country, and travel to meet kanohi ki te kanohi (face to face) is important. All travel is now approved by senior management.

Emission source breakdown, 2023/24

* Other includes rental cars, taxis, waste and water supply.

Manatū Taonga gross emissions reductions

Health, safety and wellbeing
Hauora me te haumarutanga

The health, safety and wellbeing of our kaimahi and other people are of paramount importance. Improvement of our health, safety and wellbeing systems continues to be a focus at Manatū Taonga. We want those working with us to return home from work safe, healthy and well.

Our vision

Manatū Taonga provides safe and healthy environments for our people, contractors and visitors.

Our objective

Manatū Taonga will support all kaimahi, contractors and visitors to understand and manage risk well, engage and innovate our health and safety.

Our goal

Everyone plays their part to manage health and safety risks effectively.

At the beginning of 2024, Manatū Taonga launched its first Wellbeing Plan. This plan demonstrates our organisation’s commitment to wellbeing and maintaining a positive and healthy workplace culture. The plan covers injury prevention, health support, and care for wellbeing.

Our people and wellbeing

To create a workplace culture that prioritises health, safety and wellbeing, we make sure our people have ongoing engagement and learning opportunities. We encourage worker participation and engagement by incorporating health, safety and wellbeing topics in internal communications and meeting agendas, including kaimahi alongside our Health and Safety Representatives in regular workplace audits, and ensuring easy access to health, safety and wellbeing information, policies, and procedures.

Our Health, Safety and Wellbeing Committee is a key forum for employees to participate in the promotion of wellbeing, health and safety policies and practices in all workplaces where Ministry work is undertaken.

Training is provided annually to first aiders, floor wardens and Health and Safety Representatives. De-escalation training is offered to all front-line staff, including floor wardens.

The Ministry’s Executive Leadership Team, Te Kāhui Mataaho, are committed to completing Officer Development Training through the Government Health and Safety Lead by June 2025.

Our risks

Work undertaken by Manatū Taonga is generally low risk, with minor hazards and injuries occurring infrequently. Our flexible working policy allows kaimahi to work either in a modern office or remotely.

Manatū Taonga is responsible for Pukeahu National War Memorial Park (Pukeahu). This facility comprises a large open-air park with shared vehicle and pedestrian roadways. Pukeahu is open to the public and regularly hosts memorial services, school groups, tours and visiting dignitaries.

A traffic management survey conducted in 2023/24 found that there were actions that could be taken to improve pedestrian safety around the park. Steps to implement these changes have been embedded in the 2024/25 work programme for Pukeahu.

Manatū Taonga maintains national memorials and war graves throughout Aotearoa New Zealand and in a range of locations overseas. This work is often undertaken in remote locations. To mitigate risk, our inspectors travel with a GPS tracking tool to enable monitoring and distress messaging.

Work to earthquake-strengthen the carillon tower at the National War Memorial began in May 2024. Manatū Taonga shares its PCBU (person conducting business or undertaking) duties with the lead contractor. A site-specific safety plan and emergency protocols are in place and the Ministry receives reports ononsite health and safety. The National War Memorial has been closed to the public since February 2020 and use of the building has been guided by strict health and safety protocols.

For the delivery of the national Matariki hautapu ceremony, Manatū Taonga worked with all parties involved to ensure the health and safety of those working and attending.

Health and safety incidents

The number of hazards and incidents reported this financial year was down from the previous year. We encourage staff to log all Health and Safety incidents and continue to manage these in line with established policies and procedures. This year we have added a new reporting category: days lost because of injuries. 

Number of health and safety incidents

Our service critical assets

Manatū Taonga has no service critical assets as defined by CO(23)9 Investment Management and Asset Performance in Departments and Other Entities,i.e., assets which, if damaged or destroyed, are likely to have a significant adverse impact on the delivery of the agency’s services.

We acknowledge our responsibility for maintaining a range of national memorials, historic graves and war graves throughout Aotearoa New Zealand and overseas. These memorials and graves provide places for New Zealanders to gather, remember and reflect on significant aspects of our nation’s history, including disasters, conflicts and prominent leaders. While these are important assets, damage to them does not have a direct impact on the delivery of our services.

We also acknowledge that our funded agencies manage a range of assets and taonga which are important parts of the cultural system but are not directly associated with the delivery of our services.

Reporting on financial information
He pūrongo pārongo ahumoni

Please refer to the PDF of the Annual Report for the financial statements. If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of these statements in a more accessible format, please email [email protected].