Appropriation Minister: Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage

Vote Arts, Culture and Heritage – Management of historic places

Scope: Identification, registration, site recording and associated promotion of the conservation, protection and care of historic places, and purchasing of management services for properties, including maintenance work and provision of access for the public.

What is intended to be achieved with this appropriation

This appropriation is intended to achieve conservation of our stories, places and collections for present and future generations.

How well we delivered it

This section provides an assessment of our delivery against the performance measures set out in the Estimates documents for 2024/25.

Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga and Antarctic Heritage Trust

Financial performance

Vote Arts, Culture and Heritage – Museum services

Scope: Collection development, collection management, public programmes and repatriation of kōiwi tangata.

What is intended to be achieved with this appropriation

This appropriation is intended to achieve engagement with New Zealanders about the nation’s cultural and audiovisual taonga through high-quality exhibitions, screening, events and outreach activities.

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 2024/25.

Te Papa Tongarewa

Note 1: Since the start of the financial year, Te Papa has experienced a decline in total visitation. While the number of domestic visitors decreased by 5%, the drop in overseas visitation was more significant, sitting at 28% compared to the previous year. This decline is likely due to a combination of factors, such as the introduction of an international visitor entry charge, smaller-than-forecasted increases in our core markets, and fewer cruise ships arriving in Wellington.

Note 2: A second repatriation was planned to take place in the 2024/25 financial year but was rescheduled to August 2025 given the significant planning required for repatriations and the availability of key staff required for the project.

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

Visitation (physical)

To count visits to Te Papa a sensor counting system is used with manual audits carried out to calculate margin of error. A 1.5% overcount is deducted to take into account people who enter and leave and staff entering via the main doors. A further deduction is applied based on information obtained from monthly exit surveys where respondents indicated they left the museum and returned on the same day.

Percentage of adult visitors surveyed reporting a satisfaction rating of ‘satisfied’ to ‘extremely satisfied’ for overall museum experience during their visit

In person visitor surveys are conducted by research assistants using tablets. We use an external market research company that completes data integrity checks and data cleansing completed by an external market research company. A score of 6 to 10 inclusive (on a scale of 10) aligns to ‘satisfied’ (6–8) and ‘extremely satisfied’ (9–10).

Percentage of museums, galleries and iwi that would recommend engagement with Te Papa

SurveyMonkey is used for an annual survey of sector organisations who have engaged with National Services Te Paerangi throughout the year, to determine whether organisations would recommend working with Te Papa based on their experience.

Collections preserved by minimal cases of irreparable damage occurring as a result of public access and handling by staff

Irreparable damage means the collection item is no longer exhibitable or can no longer be used as intended. Where damage to a small part of the item is irreparable but the item as a whole remains exhibitable/usable, this is not reported as irreparable when reporting on this measure.

Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision

Note 1: Analysis shows that social media is a key driver for audiences to our website and online catalogue. However, social media algorithms are constantly evolving and becoming more unpredictable. Social media engagements for 2024/25 dropped slightly compared to 2023/24 which has impacted on the hours spent viewing from the online catalogue..

Note 2: The Utaina mass digitisation project has significantly increased the number of digital files available for sharing. This has enabled larger volumes of requests for collection material to be serviced.

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

Percentage of collection stored in best practice conditions

Ngā Taonga uses the Image Permanence Institute (IPI) standards to guide environmental conditions for audiovisual materials. These standards reflect best practice in preventive conservation and align with the needs of the collection, which is over 80% low-stability formats like magnetic media and film.

Financial performance

Vote Arts, Culture and Heritage – Performing arts services

Scope: Providing opportunities for New Zealand audiences to experience high-quality live symphonic music, ballet and kapa haka performances; supporting the growth of the contemporary music industry; and encouraging participation in and appreciation of these art forms in New Zealand.

What is intended to be achieved with this appropriation

This appropriation is intended to achieve world-class performances which reflect our culture, identity and traditions for New Zealand and international audiences.

How well we delivered it

This section provides an assessment of our delivery against the performance measures set out in the Estimates documents for 2024/25.

Audiences for symphonic music, ballet and kapa haka performances

Note 1: Non-paying attendees are excluded from the audience numbers, so consequently the out-turn is slightly less than projected.

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

Audience members at ticketed NZSO concerts

Non-paying attendees are excluded from the audience numbers.

Total views of NZSO digital content streaming

This measure includes new concert performance livestreams, releases of new performance video-on-demand, new short-form narrative content, education & community engagement content, and partner and user-generated content featuring NZSO as primary subject (such as re-shares via Stories, Reels).

Television and online audiences for kapa haka events

Television and online audiences include those that viewed the event on television, live streamed the event, or viewed reels/highlights of the events on social media and YouTube.

New Zealand centres reached by live performances

Note 1: In 2024/25 there were shorter regional tours which resulted in fewer centres being reached.

Concerts/performances feature New Zealand artistic content

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

Number of NZ works performed/recorded/streamed by NZSO

This measure includes composers who are both New Zealand citizens and permanent residents.

Royal New Zealand Ballet education and community activity

Contemporary music capability

Financial performance

Vote Arts, Culture and Heritage – Promotion and support of the arts and film

Scope: Contributing to the development of New Zealand’s cultural identity and international profile; supporting access and participation by New Zealanders in the arts; encouraging and recognising innovation and excellence through the support of new work and presentation of New Zealand arts and film to New Zealanders.

What is intended to be achieved with this appropriation

This appropriation is intended to achieve high-quality New Zealand arts and film productions for New Zealand and international audiences.

How well we delivered it

This section provides an assessment of our delivery against the performance measures set out in the Estimates documents for 2024/25.

Creative New Zealand

Note 1—Arts activities’ captures a wide variety of works funded by Creative New Zealand (e.g. plays, concerts, dance performances, exhibitions, workshops, masterclasses and publications). ‘Events’ capture the number of opportunities audiences have to experience arts activities (e.g. each time a play, concert, dance performance, workshop, masterclass occurs; each day an exhibition is open to the public; each sale or publication).

Note 2—26 out of 28 projects met expectations set in funding agreements as of 30 June 2025. One project was given an extension on final reporting, and one did not meet expectations due to budget overspend, however the film was completed.

Note 3—Of 67 organisations in the Tōtara and Kahikatea programmes assessed for financial health, 59 met expectations. The result does not necessarily reflect failures in financial management, but financial pressures organisations are facing, including rising costs, challenges with securing community and corporate funding, local government funding constraints, and cost-of-living pressures on audiences.

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

Number of attendances at arts activities and events

This measure refers to audience numbers, including paid audiences, readers, viewers and attendances at free events. Attendances are reported by project grant recipients and investment organisations in final project completion reports and 6-monthly monitoring reports respectively.

Maintain or increase average ‘other’ (non-Creative New Zealand) investment per organisation

Using Creative New Zealand investment clients as a proxy for the arts sector, we can demonstrate the support for the sector by measuring the level of revenue organisations generate from sources other than Creative New Zealand.

The result is calculated as a proportion of total other (non-CNZ) revenue over the total revenue for all Investment clients. The result is based on the calendar year financial information; e.g. the current year 2024/25 is based on the 2024 calendar year.

Festivals initiative

Lead Practice Advisers evaluate the final project completion reports to determine whether the project has either ‘exceeded expectations, meet expectations or did not meet expectations’.

New Zealand Film Commission (NZFC)

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

Support through a NZFC talent development initiative

NZFC Talent development initiatives are now supported through devolved funding. Programmes counted under this measure have supported filmmakers who have NZFC-funded long-form projects and include the Activator Screen Business Programme, A Wave in the Ocean, and Maoriland Indigenous Co-Lab.

Long-form screen stories produced

This measure includes films receiving NZFC production financing and/or the NZ Screen Production Rebate. Development support includes funding through schemes such as Seed, Early Development, Advanced Development, He Ara, Boost or Whakawhanake Kiriata: Māori Development Funds.

Feature films that are culturally significant

Culturally significant films and screen stories are those that New Zealand audiences will recognise as reflecting New Zealand identity and culture. Minority co-productions set in another country are unlikely to meet this criteria. The NZFC Funding team determines projects as culturally significant during the assessment phase.

Te Reo Māori films or series dramas

The majority of dialogue spoken must be in Te Reo Māori. Final decisions are made by the Head of Department if it is determined as a Te Reo Māori script.

Financial performance

Vote Arts, Culture and Heritage – COVID-19 – Cultural sector response and recovery

Scope: This appropriation is limited to support for national, regional and community arts, cultural, and heritage organisations and individuals to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on New Zealand’s cultural sector.

What is intended to be achieved with this appropriation

This appropriation is intended to achieve the support of the cultural and creative industries to survive, adapt and revitalise from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and to increase well-being through greater public access to art and culture.

How well we delivered it

This section provides an assessment of our delivery against the performance measures set out in the Estimates documents for 2024/25.

COVID-19 – Cultural sector response and recovery funding

Financial performance

Vote Arts, Culture and Heritage – Heritage and cultural sector initiatives

Scope: This appropriation is limited to contributions to maintain, improve or expand heritage or cultural services in New Zealand.

What is intended to be achieved with this appropriation

This appropriation is intended to achieve improved heritage and cultural services available for the benefit of New Zealanders.

How well we delivered it

This section provides an assessment of our delivery against the performance measures set out in the Estimates documents for 2024/25.

Heritage and cultural sector initiatives

Financial performance

Note 1 – as part of Budget 2025 decisions, the remaining funding held in contingency for a potential contribution to National Fale Malae was reprioritised. Once a business case has been approved and resource consent granted, Government will consider any future contributions to the initiative.

Note 2 – Spending in 2024/25 was mainly a $16.5 million government contribution to the restoration of the St James theatre in Auckland.

Vote Arts, Culture and Heritage – Maintenance of war graves, historic graves and memorials

Scope: This appropriation is limited to maintenance of war graves, historic graves and memorials in New Zealand and overseas, and depreciation expenses incurred on Crown-owned assets.

What is intended to be achieved with this appropriation

This appropriation is intended to maintain the condition of war graves, historic graves and monuments in New Zealand and overseas.

How well we delivered it

This section provides an assessment of our delivery against the performance measures set out in the Estimates documents for 2024/25.

Maintenance of war graves, historic graves and memorials

Financial performance

Vote Arts, Culture and Heritage – Settlement of Legal Obligations

Scope: This appropriation is limited to expenses to settle legal claims associated with the development and maintenance of war graves, historical graves and memorials.

What is intended to be achieved with this appropriation

This appropriation is intended to achieve compliance with legal requirements.

How well we delivered it

This section provides an assessment of our delivery against the performance measures set out in the Estimates documents for 2024/25

Settlement of legal obligations

Note 1 – In May 2025 the Ministry settled legal obligations under the Public Works Act 1981 relating to an easement granted to the Crown under the National War Memorial Park (Pukeahu) Empowering Act 2012. For further information see the non-departmental statements and schedules in the Ministry’s 2025 annual report.

Financial performance

Vote Arts, Culture and Heritage – Supporting Commemorations and Anniversaries

Scope: This appropriation is limited to initiatives that support commemorations of historical or cultural milestones and anniversaries.

What is intended to be achieved with this appropriation

This appropriation is intended to achieve greater public awareness and understanding of commemorations and important cultural milestones.

How well we delivered it

This section provides an assessment of our delivery against the performance measures set out in the Estimates documents for 2024/25.

Supporting commemorations and anniversaries

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

Funding

The Minister agreed to the approach and fund criteria for the 2025 Fund Round. The criteria guided the advisory panel's consideration of all applications received and informed the funding recommendations made to the Secretary.

Financial performance

Vote Arts, Culture and Heritage – Heritage and culture sector capital

Scope: This appropriation is limited to capital investment in Crown cultural agencies and heritage assets.

What is intended to be achieved with this appropriation

This appropriation is intended to maintain and increase the contribution of Crown cultural sector agencies and other assets towards the wellbeing of all New Zealanders.

How well we delivered it

This section provides an assessment of our delivery against the performance measures set out in the Estimates documents for 2024/25.

Heritage and culture sector capital

Note 1 – This measure was based on the suitability of material to be in scope, however during the detailed analysis of the collection it was revealed that there were a larger number of in-scope TVNZ items than had been estimated in 2023/24, leading to the actual result of 103% for the 2024/25 financial year.

Note 2 – Te Papa receives an annual ring-fenced fund for the purpose of acquiring collection items on behalf of the nation. Collection acquisition proposals are reviewed and approved by Te Papa’s internal Collection Development Committee who ensure each proposal aligns to the appropriate sections of the relevant policies and strategies. Decisions are documented in Te Papa’s collection information management system and form the basis of reporting to the measure.

Financial performance

Appropriation Minister: Minister for Media and Communications

Vote Arts, Culture and Heritage – Public media services

Scope: This appropriation is limited to content and programming for New Zealand audiences; the funding for New Zealand content and programming, support the broader media sector; music, archiving, digital media platforms, broadcasting, and transmission coverage; maintenance of codes and determination of complaints on broadcasting standards; and funding a Pacific media network and international radio and television services to the Pacific.

What is intended to be achieved with this appropriation

This appropriation is intended to achieve diverse and relevant New Zealand content and programming, meeting appropriate content standards, which is available to New Zealand and Pacific audiences.

How well we delivered it

This section provides an assessment of our delivery against the performance measures set out in the Estimates documents for 2024/25.

Radio New Zealand Pacific

New Zealand On Air

Note 1: Targeted audiences includes children, youth, persons with disabilities and minorities in the community (Broadcasting Act 1989 s36(1)(c)).

Note 2: The two sub targets (commercial and streaming services) were within 2-3% of being achieved.

Note 3: Audio streaming comprises Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube. Video Streaming comprises YouTube and Apple Music. These three services make up around 95%–97% of all streaming in New Zealand.

Broadcasting Standards Authority (BSA)

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

Working days

Working days calculated based on definition of that term in the Broadcasting Act 1989.

Financial performance