2025/26 Iti Pounamu funding round

Iti Pounamu is a one-off funding round added to the 2025/26 financial year to provide an opportunity for content creators to apply for funding or contribution toward a smaller scale project ahead of the next General Audience funding round.

We invite applicants with projects that are ready for production to apply for funding of up to $300,000 (ex. GST) by responding to the 2025/26 Iti Pounamu RFP.

Funding will be allocated in accordance with our investment framework which expects to direct 60% of all funding toward the creation of Fluent content (content containing 70-100% te reo Māori). 

Applications should demonstrate that the project is ready for production. Any successful project will need to meet a high standard for te reo Māori, have a clear and achievable audience strategy and is scaled appropriately for this round. 

Timeline:

• 21 August - Round opens in Te Pūahatanga
• 26 August, 1:00pm - Funding round info session 
• 18 September, 5:00pm - Round closes
• 17 October - Funding decisions

2025/26 Reo Māori Content Co-Fund with NZ On Air

Te Māngai Pāho and NZ On Air are joining forces once again to fund high-quality, reo Māori screen content for a broad audience. The purpose of the co-fund is to support projects that neither agency can fund alone.

The content we are looking 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.   

Ambitious projects with scale should have high production values, well-crafted scripts or well researched ideas, that will stand out in the media marketplace. They will have strong platform support, including promotional budgets that aspire to attract a large local audience.  

Timeline:

• 21 August - Round opens in Te Pūahatanga
• 22 August, 11:00am - Funding round info session 
• 11 September, 5:00pm - Round closes
• 21 November - Funding decisions