Broadcasting, Arts, Culture and Heritage

Broadcasting

The New Zealand media sector is under enormous stress and needs to be supported with fresh ideas, new policy and investment to ensure its ongoing viability. The guiding principle is to develop a broad range of interconnected policies that supports a diverse, sustainable and independent media sector that (i) keeps New Zealanders connected and informed; (ii) gives people a choice of outlets and sources of information; (iii) celebrates our unique arts, culture and languages; and (iv) supports a strong participative democracy

Policy:

  • Establish a new stand-alone industry led journalism funding entity to manage a contestable "Public Good" journalism fund
  • Examine tax deductions for domestic news subscriptions, press patron subscriptions, and large corporate sponsorships of news outlets
  • Facilitate collaboration of media entities through simplifying competition rules for merger activities whilst protecting national interest
  • Require and mandate Radio New Zealand (RNZ) to support the health of the broadcasting sector by providing shared services, facilities, content, training and staff development, and infrastructure for the wider industry
  • Secure and futureproof RNZ Concert as an important entity in our public broadcasting stable noting the station plays a crucial and unique role within the arts sector in New Zealand
  • Strengthen RNZ Pacific’s role as an international service that connects New Zealand with our Pacific neighbours
  • Enable the broadcasting industry to get efficiency of scale through mandating that TVNZ and other Crown media entities work together in creating efficiencies and capabilities that provide greater value for the New Zealand public
  • Release TVNZ from its obligation to return a dividend to the government
  • Return Māori Television’s operation to Auckland CBD to enable all Crown media entities to work together and share resources, helping provide greater value for the New Zealand public while ensuring plurality is maintained across the 4th estate and Māori media
  • Future proof funding to enable Iwi radio to develop its full potential as valued community radio stations and integral community hubs including as a media training pipeline for rangatahi in provincial New Zealand
  • Consider a funding review for Access Radio 
  • Consider a review into extending the definition of community radio in recognition of the role these other community broadcasters play in New Zealand’s media landscape

Arts, Culture & Heritage

New Zealand already generates distinctive, powerful, and beautiful art. However, the continued ability to utilise our capacity for creativity will rest on the support we dedicate to Arts, Culture and Heritage. Through support and recognition, we greatly contribute to both New Zealand’s sense of self and areas of our economy that are often overlooked. Whether it be recognising the fundamental role Māori culture plays in our national identity, or preserving our historic sites and buildings, New Zealand’s arts, culture and heritage must be protected.

Policy:

  • Guarantee sustainable and transparent funding for the arts
  • Ensure that all New Zealanders have the opportunity to participate and to feel immersed in the arts and culture our country offers through making sure it is accessible
  • Uphold the protection of culturally and historically significant places, buildings and churches. 
  • Promote and facilitate the development of New Zealand’s unique and dynamic arts industry in terms of trade and marketability.
  • Support the protection of intellectual property
  • Introduce a requirement for international streamers like Netflix and other international platforms with significant New Zealand subscriptions to contribute to the New Zealand production industry by commissioning local content production
  • Provide funding to establish a New Zealand Jazz Orchestra
  • Reduce the destructive impact of Building Legislation on New Zealand’s cultural heritage sites through developing a risk assessment approach to provide greater flexibility of compliance than is currently possible
  • Secure the future of the historic Christchurch Arts Centre
  • Provide funding support for Regional Heritage Museums
  • Legislate to gain an equity share of future productions in recognition of either direct subsidies or tax breaks provided to be reinvested into New Zealand’s art and film industry
  • Fund the New Zealand Wars Documentary Collection 
  • Fund specialist curriculum leaders to support schools to deliver on the Arts Curriculum throughout the compulsory school sector
  • Work with local government to support regional art and historical spaces ensuring access to sustainable arts infrastructure