Kura Pounamu funding decisions

In July, the Board approved the Kura Pounamu funding decisions, the first round for 2026/27. 20 tamariki/rangatahi applications were submitted to the 2026/27 Kura Pounamu funding round. Six were approved totalling $4,067,632. 

• New Hawaiki, 12 x 5 mins, Haka Boy films Limited for Māori+, up to $1,233,258
• Tākaro Tribe Series 7, 26 x 12.5 mins and 1x45mins, Cinco Cine Film Productions Limited for YouTube, up to $839,298
• Poto me Pipi, 10 x 5 mins, Tai Huri Films Limited for Whakaata Māori, up to $780,000
• Te Koutu Poitūkohu, 10 x 12 mins, Hi Mama Limited for TVNZ+, up to $521,726
• Māngai Series 2, 8 x 8 mins, Mahi Tahi Media Limited for YouTube, up to $365,000
• Nohinohi Series 2, 12 x 3 mins, Adrenalin Limited for YouTube, up to $328,350

34 General Audience applications were submitted to the Kura Pounamu funding round. 14 applications were approved totalling up to $6,601,183.45.

• Te Matatini, full 5-day live coverage, Pango Productions Limited for TVNZ 2 and Whakaata Māori, up to $1,330,081
• Toi Repairs, 4 x 44 mins, Kura Productions Limited for TVNZ 1, up to $850,000
• Hunting Aotearoa Series 21, 10 x 23 mins, Hikoi NZ Limited for TVNZ Duke, up to $723,000
• Tuna Dundee Raumati Edition, 8 x 24 mins, Treacherous Inc Limited for Whakaata Māori, up to $565,000
• Tōrangapū – Politics, Power and Pure Chaos, 24 x 5 mins, Tutu Productions Limited for Instagram, up to $510,000
• Studio Ghibli Reversioning, 1 x 90 mins, Māoriland Charitable Trust for Whakaata Māori, up to $500,000
• HAKATAETAE, 32 x 2 mins, Mako Media Limited for Instagram, up to $455,982.50
• ADHD, Maui and Me, 9 x 3-5 mins + 8 x 2-3 mins, Blackout Media Limited for Facebook, up to $405,500
• All Gear No Idea, 9 x 45 mins, Mahi Tahi Media Limited for YouTube, up to $400,000
• Waka Huia Ngā Taonga Tuku Iho, 8 x 29 mins, Scottie Douglas Productions for TVNZ, up to $335,000
• Te Hono. A New Beginning, 1 x 56 mins, Tawera Productions Limited for Whakaata Māori, up to $321,000
• Pūkenga Reo, 25 x 25 mins, All Round Audio Limited for Iwi Radio, up to $79,067.75
• Whānaukai – The Giving Series 5.0, 24 x 3 mins, Gourmet Pepper Limited for Instagram, up to $66,655.20
• Kei Te Piki – On The Rise, 14 weeks of commentary for the National Provincial Championship Rugby Match, Television New Zealand Limited for TVNZ, up to $59,897

New research highlights growing economic value of te reo Māori across Aotearoa 

The Economic Value of Te Reo Māori report (research undertaken by Business and Economic Research Limited (BERL), supported by Whakaata Māori) has found that te reo Māori is not only a cornerstone of identity and culture in Aotearoa New Zealand, but is also an increasingly important contributor to economic participation, workforce capability and long-term opportunity.  

The findings reflect more than 40 years of sustained revitalisation efforts, including the growth of Māori-medium education and the role of Māori media in normalising and strengthening everyday use of te reo Māori. Together, these systems have contributed to a growing, confident and skilled Māori-speaking workforce, with impacts that will continue to unfold as younger generations progress into the workforce.  

Key Findings: 

The research shows that te reo Māori capability is steadily increasing across the workforce alongside improved employment and higher income for speakers.  

Growing te reo Māori capability in the workforce 
The share of workers who speak te reo Māori has increased from 1.8% in 2013 to 3.3 in 2023, representing a near doubling over a decade. Education and training are the highest proportion with 8.2%, followed by television (7.2%), radio (7.0%) and public administration (4.9%).  

Strong pipeline of rangatahi 
More than 70% of highly proficient speakers began learning before 2013, demonstrating the long-term impact of early immersion. The proficiency gap between those aged 15-34 and those aged 35 and over shows that many highly proficient speakers are at the early stages of their career or are still in education, shaping both current and future labour market dynamics.  

 Improving economic outcomes 
Income gaps between speakers and non-speakers have closed and, for Māori speakers, reversed. Māori speakers of te reo Māori now earn slightly more (0.7%) than Māori non-speakers, after earning less in 2013 and 2018.  

Māori-led pathways are driving capability 
Māori-medium education and culturally grounded learning environments are associated with both linguistic and academic success.  

The full research report is available here.