Funding rounds open now

Mōhiohio - closes 27 August

Te Māngai Pāho seeks proposals for factual reo Māori content projects that are backed by a strong case demonstrating both project readiness and the applicant’s ability to deliver.

In the Mōhiohio round, factual content is broadly defined as researched and fact-based content with an intent to inform. Priority will be given to high-quality reo Māori documentaries; news; and current affairs content for diverse audiences across free-to-access media platforms. Funded content must contribute to the normalisation and wellbeing of te reo Māori. Projects with 70–100% reo Māori will be prioritised.

Information Session and Proposal Discussions

An info session will be held at 11:00am on Tuesday 16 June. The link to join the session is here: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87838240069  

Applicants will also have an opportunity to discuss their draft applications with a kaihāpai. Contact content@tmp.govt.nz to organise a time. Enquiries for the Mōhiohio round will not be taken after 9 July, and a kaihāpai will be in touch no later than 23 July. 

Reo Māori Content Co-fund - closes 27 August

Te Māngai Pāho and NZ On Air have joined forces to fund high-quality, Scripted and Non-Fiction reo Māori content for a broad audience.

Research into the funding of Māori content has shown that most public funding for Māori film and television content goes toward Non-Fiction production. Audience research tells us that Māori audiences appreciate comedy and drama. To address the funding imbalance and serve our audiences, in this co-fund we are looking to preference ambitious Scripted projects with scale.

The content we look to support is Aotearoa-centric, engaging, and compelling. It will also positively impact on New Zealanders’ attitudes toward te reo Māori by giving the audience an experience of the language that is inclusive and within their reach.

Te Māngai Pāho and NZ On Air are prepared to allocate up to $8m of funding but reserve at their discretion the right to distribute a greater or lesser amount in this funding round.

Information Session

Advisors will be available to provide clarity on priorities, processes and criteria; and to answer questions at an online session at 1:00pm on Wednesday 17 June 2026. RSVP at funding@nzonair.govt.nz. The link will be sent to you prior to the session.

Oro Hāpai - closes 8 July 

Through this RFP, Te Māngai Pāho aims to identify organisations with a track record in the music business to apply for funding to support wānanga and collaborative initiatives that will develop popular and contemporary waiata reo Māori. Proposed initiatives should aim to:

• create new waiata reo Māori with a focus on song structure, melody, and well-crafted reo Māori lyrics,
• return a minimum number of waiata reo Māori demo recordings for use in future Waiata Reo Māori and Waiata Tuarea funding applications to Te Māngai Pāho,
• grow the capability of participants to confidently express themselves in waiata reo Māori.

Applications and proposals should be for activity between 1 September 2026 and 30 June 2027.

Information Session

An info session will be held at 1:30pm on Thursday 11 June. The link to join the session is here: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89800098776?pwd=oOpHD10qWRx6AhNPvXWznA0RJEQ4h6.1 

Oro Kura Roa - closes 8 July

The purpose of this funding is to support the career development of emerging reo Māori singer-songwriters and music artists. Oro Kura Roa is an opportunity designed to support an emerging artist(s) to focus on their music career and creativity full-time for a short, intensive period. During this time, the selected artist(s) will expand their professional network and build their music business skills, while producing and releasing a multi-song project in te reo Māori.

Information Session

An info session will be held at 1:00pm on Thursday 11 June. The link to join the session is here: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89649827603 

More info on our funding rounds, priorities and funding dates is available on our website.

Budget 2026

Te Māngai Pāho welcomes additional injection of $48 million for te reo Māori and cultural capability confirmed in Budget 2026.

The Budget investment will support Māori broadcasting over the next four years. The purpose of the funding is to help Māori media organisations adapt to a changing digital environment, commission new te reo Māori content, develop talent and strengthen their capability. We will wait to hear further detail on how the funding will be allocated, however we acknowledge that this funding is a clear signal of continued support for te reo Māori. 

Although Te Māngai Pāho still faces a reduction in funding for 2026/27, this new investment will mitigate the impact of losing $16 million of time-limited funding and will enable continued support for quality te reo Māori content across iwi radio, diverse content, music and industry support initiatives.