Vote Arts, Culture and Heritage factsheet

In Budget 2026, Vote Arts, Culture and Heritage is funded $460.7 million in 2026/27 ($1.7 billion over four years).

Savings package:

Total savings of $27.077 million over four years (2 per cent reduction on the eligible baseline).

Savings comes from:

All agencies funded through Vote Arts, Culture and Heritage were required to contribute to savings:

• NZ On Air (total of $13.8 million over four years) which includes savings for Radio New Zealand ($5.6 million over four years).
• Te Papa Tongarewa ($3.4 million over four years)
• Manatū Taonga Ministry for Culture and Heritage ($2 million over four years)
• Te Matatini ($1.5 million over four years)
• New Zealand Symphony Orchestra ($1.4 million over four years)
• Creative New Zealand ($1.3 million over four years)
• Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga ($1.2 million over four years)
• Ngā Taonga Sound and Vision ($832,000 over four years)
• Royal New Zealand Ballet ($568,000 over four years)
• New Zealand Film Commission ($400,000 over four years)
• New Zealand Music Commission ($180,000 over four years)
• Antarctic Heritage Trust ($124,000 over four years)
• Broadcasting Standards Authority ($80,000 over four years)

Crown entities are finalising their Statements of Performance Expectations for 2026/27 which will outline how they will deliver on their outcomes within these new funding levels.

New funding goes to:

Funding of $185.3m (over four years) will secure the future of the domestic Screen Production Rebate, which supports New Zealand stories on screen (and investment into them). This includes funding of $800,000 across four years to support the New Zealand Film Commission to administer the rebate.

Baseline operating funding for each agency

Vote Sport and Recreation factsheet

In Budget 2026, Vote Sport and Recreation is funded $116.7m in 2026/27 ($467 million over four years). This funding supports the sport and recreation system to deliver a wide range of benefits to New Zealanders.

Savings package:

Budget 2026 for Vote Sport and Recreation includes a savings package of $9.4 million over four years.

Savings comes from:

The savings package comes from a reduction in funding for Sport New Zealand of $8.5 million over four years, and Integrity Sport and Recreation Commission of $900,000 over four years. 

Crown entities are finalising their Statements of Performance Expectations for 2026/27 which will outline how they will deliver on their outcomes within these new funding levels.

Baseline operating funding for sport agencies