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He Pānui
Kia ora koutou! Welcome to this edition of He Pānui - Te Māngai Pāho, keeping you up to date with the latest news in te reo Māori content and funding across Aotearoa!
Lights, Camera, Impact: The role of screen production in shaping New Zealand’s economy and culture
The New Zealand Film Commission, NZ On Air and Te Māngai Pāho commissioned NZIER and Verian to analyse the role of screen production in shaping New Zealand’s economy and culture. This work forms part of Mahi Tahi, an initiative by the three agencies to strengthen and grow the screen sector in Aotearoa through shared insight and collaboration.
The research covered three areas: economic activity in New Zealand screen production, the cultural impact on NZ screen production, and how our screen content influences global perceptions of New Zealand.
Key findings:
Economic impact:
- $3 billion total output from the screen sector.
- 26,960 overall screen industry workforce (both employees and contractors).
- NZSPR data shows that qualifying NZ production expenditure for international productions in 2024/25 was $647.1 million.
- $2.7 billion estimated tourism expenditure linked to screen content.
- 15.9% of visitors quote screen influences in their decision to visit NZ.
Cultural impact:
- 8 in 10 international viewers say NZ content sparks curiosity and 72% considered visiting as a result.
- 73% of New Zealanders agree NZ-made content shapes national identity.
- 87% of international viewers say Māori stories help them value indigenous storytelling more broadly.
- 83% of international viewers agree NZ content gives New Zealand a distinctive voice in global film and television.
The key findings of this research highlight three critical outcomes for the future of the screen industry:
Cultural value as our superpower - the research demonstrated that locally made content not only contributes to national identity and belonging but also positions New Zealand as a leader in indigenous national storytelling and cultural authenticity on a global stage.
Dependence on incentives and the need for sustainability - the report reveals that the screen sector remains heavily reliant on incentives to attract and retain productions.
Persistent data gaps - the research process has underscored significant data gaps in the screen industry.
These outcomes provide a clear roadmap for action, guiding investment in better data, fostering collaboration to build a more sustainable industry, and championing the unique cultural strengths that set New Zealand’s screen industry apart.
Click here for the full report, which has also been published on all three agencies’ websites.
Tuia a Ranginui e tū iho nei
Tuia a Papatūānuku e takoto ake nei
Tuia i runga, tuia i raro, tuia i roto, tuia i waho
Ka rongo te pō, ka rongo te ao
I te kōrerorero, i te wānangananga,
Pū ātakataka, pū āwhiowhio
Kahoro ko te mārama, kahurangi te mārama
Ka taka ko te hau o Tū
Tū te winiwini, Tū te wanawana
Tū whakaputa atu ki te whai ao ki te ao mārama
Whano, whano, haramai te toki
Haumi ē! Hui ē! Tāiki ē!
Aku rangatira, mai i nga tōpito o te motu, tēnā rā koutou. Tēnā rā koutou i roto i ngā tini āhuatanga o tēnei nā tau, i runga anō hoki i ō koutou ake whaikaha kia ū tonu ana ki tō tātou take, arā, ko te reo tērā, ahakoa ngā uauatanga o te tau kua pahure tata nei. Ka tāhuri ake, me mihi tātou ki te wāhi ngaro, ki ngā atua, ki ngā mana kei tua o te pae o maumahara. Me mihi hoki ki ngā mate, ki ō tātou tūpuna e moe mai ana i te Pō. Kei te maumaharatia ō tātou ake rangatira, ō tātou ake mātua, ō tātou ake hoa pūmau, kua riro atu ki tērā atu taha o te ārai i te wā nei: ko Lee Tamahori tērā, ko John Barnett tērā, ā, ko Cyril Chapman. Koutou ngā mate huhua o te ao Māori, huia katoatia, haere, haere, haere ki te Pō!
Kāti rā, huri hoki ki a tātou ngā waihōtanga o rātou, kei konei e pūtohe ana kia whakatīnana ai o rātou moemoeā. Tēnā koutou, otirā tēnā rā tātou.
We have navigated our way to the end of another year. While I would like to hope that 2026 will be less challenging, the potential loss of time-limited funding is likely to test the resilience of us all. There is an irony in the fact that any number of sector reviews have come to naught, and that the driver of greatest change is likely to be a dramatic reduction in the funding of Te Māngai Pāho.
We appreciate that uncertainty creates real challenges for our sector. We have already commenced engagement with our sector to test a range of options to deal with the reduced funding. We will continue that in the new year. The unfortunate reality is that we are unlikely to have real certainty around funding levels until Budget 2026 is published in May. Our approach will be to plan for a range of options, including the worst, and be prepared to pivot quickly once we have certainty
Early next year, we will share with you our updated funding strategy and priorities. We will also be publishing our Statement of Intent (SOI) which will set our strategic direction for the next five years. We have been actively consulting with the sector to ensure everyone's thoughts, opinions and feedback can be considered. Further in this pānui you will see our sector survey, and I strongly suggest you take five minutes to complete this.
As we close out another year I wish to extend my thanks and best wishes to the Māori media sector. To our content creators, broadcasters, artists, iwi radio stations and sector stakeholders, thank you for your continued work for the impact and promotion of te reo Māori.
Ko te tūmanako mā te wā whakangahau, whakangā rānei ō koutou ake ngoi e haumanu ai. Ngā manaakitanga ki a koutou katoa, me ō koutou ake whānau hoki. Mauriora!
Larry Parr
Kaihautū o Te Māngai Pāho
Te Māngai Pāho future strategy survey
We are currently working our next Statement of Intent for 2026-2031 and we want to hear your whakaaro on the sector's priorities, challenges, and opportunities. Your insights will help shape our strategic direction and ensure that our investments prioritise the impact of te reo Māori across all media platforms.
Some have already completeted the survey, but if you haven't, please take a few minutes to have your contribution towards our strategic direction for the next five years. The survey will close at 5pm Wednesday, 17 December.
Te Māngai Pāho - NZ On Air Co-fund
NZ On Air and Te Māngai Pāho have funded up to $8m of high-quality Scripted and Non-fiction reo Māori language content for a broad audience containing 30% or more te reo Māori.
Two Scripted applications and one Non-Fiction application were recommended for total production funding of $7.2m, funded 50/50 by Te Māngai Pāho and NZ On Air.
The two returning Scripted series are Dead Ahead 2, and End of the Valley 2. In Non-fiction, The Casketeers: Life and Death Around the Globe 2 will see hosts Francis and Kaiora Tipene return to our screens.
The Aotearoa Music Awards will take place on Thursday 28 May 2026 in Tāmaki Makaurau – closing out Te Marama Puoro o Aotearoa | New Zealand Music Month in style.
Nominations are now open and will close on Wednesday 17 December 2025 at 5pm.
Funding dates for 2025/2026
Final payment run for 2025
Tues 16 December and Thurs 18 December
Te Māngai Pāho office close
Fri 19 December
Te Māngai Pāho office opens
Mon 12 January 2025
First payment run of 2026
Thurs 15 January
Kia māhorahora te reo!
Māori language - everyone, every way, everywhere, every day!
