2025/26 Contracting

For FY2025/26, we are updating some of our terms and conditions and contract templates. These are to ensure they align with our funding data priorities. This has caused a small delay in our contracting timeline. If you have recently been approved for funding, we apologise for the delay, and the Funding team will be in touch and begin working on them as soon as they can. 

News & Current Affairs 

The News & Current Affairs round is designed to support the creation of Māori news and current affairs content. The RFP outlines the news and current affairs funding priorities for Te Māngai Pāho in the 2025/26 financial year, for distribution during the 2026 calendar year and is divided into three separate sections:

Current Affairs - Funding is available for experienced providers to produce current affairs content that will deliver te reo Māori and Māori-interest stories to diverse audiences.

Regional News Providers - Funding is available for a maximum of seven Regional News Providers to provide core functions to ensure regular flow of news content to both national and regional audiences.

National Hub - Funding is available for a new initiative to support the Māori news ecosystem. Its core function will be to provide centralised storage of news items from the Regional News Providers and manage access rights to approved platforms and publishers. 

Industry Support Guidelines

Te Māngai Pāho Industry Support funding is aligned to the Creators key focus area published in the Te Māngai Pāho Statement of Performance Expectations for 2025/26; providing funding support to reo Māori content creators and related professionals for initiatives that benefit the reo Māori content industry and workforce. 

There are four priority areas for Industry Support funding:

1. Capacity & Capability Building
   This is an initiative that assists professional development of personnel or organisations working within the media or content production sectors. 
    
2. Partnership
   A collaboration with Te Māngai Pāho to foster positive engagement with te reo Māori through media, content or music. 
    
3. Sponsorship
   A contribution of up to $25,000.00 (ex. GST) towards an award category or event that celebrates reo Māori content or its creators. 
    
4. Quick Response
   A contribution to a kaupapa that is time-sensitive opportunity or an unanticipated event that requires additional support. 

Funding Results

2025/26 Waiata Reo Māori R1 

13 applications were received for Waiata Reo Māori and six were approved for funding up to $60,000.

• Maui – Dally
• Kia Mau Te Ata – Hops
• Taihoronuku (No Seabed Mining) – Ngāneko
• Tuituia Rā – TAWAZ, Chris Tamwoy and Marei
• TOITŪ TE TIRITI – Te KuraHuia
• Mumura – Wailan and Rongo & Kiwa

2025/26 Waiata Tuarea R1

10 applications were received for Waiata Tuarea funding, three were approved funding from the Board totalling up to $139,356.50

• Love Letters EP, by HERA, 4 waiata and 2 music videos, up to $50,000.
• Niccolo Piccolo, by Nicola Mitchell, 10 waiata and 10 music videos, up to $44,331.50. 
• Kōkōuri x Hoata/Whiro/Mutuwhenua, by Whirimako Black, Naia, Chey Milne, Kiwa, Jordyn with a Why, Pere Wihongi, Rei, Hamiora Tuari, Majic Paora, Tuakoi Ohia, Shelby Te Ua, Seth Haapu, 16 waiata and 14 music videos, up to $45,025.