24 November 2022

Introducing Laulu Mac Leauanae

Tēnā tātou, tālofa lava, greetings to you all.

I’m delighted and humbled to introduce myself as the new Secretary & Chief Executive of Manatū Taonga. Alongside the team at Manatū Taonga, I’m excited to serve you – our community of creators and doers who I consider to be the beating heart of Aotearoa New Zealand.

Here’s the official detail about me; what I’ll share here – briefly – are the values I’ll uphold.

I’m a Westie, growing up in Massey to parents who lived lives of service. My career has focused on Pacific communities in Aotearoa and our neighbouring nations, which has reinforced my belief that we’re stronger when our communities are at the centre of what we do.

Our unique Aotearoa culture, which has its inceptions in te ao Māori, and imbued with flair from the many nations who now also call these lands ‘home’, is our point of difference – our diversity advantage.

Culture has a massive role in elevating Aotearoa’s voice across the world, including when people visit us. They see, hear, and feel proud peoples of the Pacific, our customs, and our beautiful whenua. Take Matariki celebrations for example, and the impact this had not just on our nation, but the rest of the world as other cultures shared in the distinctiveness of the South Pacific based on universal celestial knowledge.

Culture is the beating heart for Aotearoa in a post-COVID world. As we emerge from COVID-19 we now meet the challenges of global turbulence, culture wars and shifts in world order. Aotearoa has always contributed a strong voice to global peace, but what will this look like in the future?

Manatū Taonga has a key role in protecting and upholding our diversity advantage, and helping Aotearoa define and develops its national identity. We will strive to support Aotearoa’s cultural communities to not just survive COVID-19, but thrive. The tourism downturn, loss of events around the motu and the loss of capacity and skills in the cultural sectors remain a huge challenge, which is why the team here have worked so hard with our partners to make sure that cultural sectors have been supported. The Regeneration Fund is the last of our major COVID Recovery Funds, supporting people and organisations to turn their ideas into initiatives that will have lasting benefits for the cultural sector and the country.

The sectors’ commitment, talent and passion will be critical in shaping a better future. I’m excited to work with you to strengthen our beating cultural heart. Watch this space – and be in this space.

Ngā manaakitanga o te wā,

Laulu Mac Leauanae
Tumu Whakarae, Secretary for Culture and Heritage and Chief Executive of Manatū Taonga

Round 2 of public feedback recap

We received more than 8,000 responses on the 240 proposals in the second round of the Regeneration Fund feedback opportunity.

We would like to give a huge thank you to everyone who took the time to provide feedback and support for the proposals. It’s heartening to see people taking the time to support their colleagues in the sector, particularly given how busy people are.

We look forward to using your comments to help us make informed funding decisions for initiatives that will have lasting benefits for arts, culture and heritage in Aotearoa New Zealand. Funding decisions will be announced in the new year.

Mātauranga Māori Marae Ora fund closes next week

Applications for Round 6 of the Mātauranga Māori Marae Ora fund close on Wednesday 30 November.  

This fund is a part of the Mātauranga Māori Te Awe Kōtuku programme and supports marae-based projects that protect and revitalise mātauranga and taonga on marae around Aotearoa. The fund is complementary to the Oranga Marae programme, and focuses on supporting the intergenerational transmission of mātauranga through marae-based activities and preserving marae taonga.

For more information or to apply, see the Community Matters website, contact matauranga.maori@dia.govt.nz, call 0800 824 824 or visit your local Department of Internal Affairs office.

New waka tauā helps revitalise traditional waka building

A 13-metre waka tauā named Manawa Kuaka was assembled over 11 days and launched at dawn on 31 October as the culmination of the Rātā He Kaha ki Uta project in Kāwhia last month.

Groups led by expert waka builders in Te Tai Tokerau, Te Tai Rāwhiti, Waikato Tainui and Te Whanganui-a-Tara constructed and carved these components of a waka in their own regions over the last two years despite COVID-19 disruptions. Led by Heemi Eruera, the project was born out of Sir Hekenukumai Busby's vision to revitalise the endangered art form of traditional waka building.

The project was supported by Creative New Zealand and funded through the Mātauranga Māori Te Awe Kōtuku programme. Watch the video to find out more about this story.

Applications open for initiatives for Social Cohesion

Last month, Te Manatū Whakahiato Ora Ministry of Social Development launched Te Korowai Whetū Social Cohesion strategic framework, the government’s plan to strengthen social cohesion in Aotearoa New Zealand. Aotearoa New Zealand is a great place to belong and call home, and Te Korowai Whetū Social Cohesion is about all of us being connected, included, respected and safe here.

An important part of this plan is a $2 million fund which supports community-led social cohesion initiatives. Community groups can apply for up to $10,000 towards initiatives that contribute to the priority areas of: inclusion and equity; recognition and respect; and trust.

The fund invites initiatives such as workshops, activities or resources that promote understanding or respectful relationships between different groups, or other events and initiatives that contribute to the priority areas. Applicants are welcome to be creative and innovative in their approaches, which may include arts, sports, cultural events, and hui.

The fund is open for applications now and will remain open until all funds have been allocated. Applicants will be notified within 10 working days of their application receipt. Successful applications will receive payment within 5 working days of being notified.

Learn more about the fund, eligibility criteria, and how to apply on the Ministry of Social Development website.

Creative and Cultural Events Incubator: applications close next Wednesday

Applications close next Wednesday for the New Zealand Major Events Creative and Cultural Events Incubator investment fund. The incubator provides up to $300,000 to events that highlight New Zealand’s diverse culture and build national pride.

To be eligible, events must create opportunities to profile and celebrate New Zealand’s national identity, with a focus on Māori and Pasifika arts and culture. Applications close 30 November, more details can be found at this page on MBIE’s website .

Public History Talk about Charles Mackey

Did you know Manatū Taonga run monthly history talks in partnership with the National Library of New Zealand?

The upcoming talk on Wednesday 7 December titled ‘Downfall: The destruction of Charles Mackey’ will be presented by Paul Diamond (Ngāti Hauā, Te Rarawa, Ngāpuhi). Paul’s book of the same name examines the startling ‘Whanganui Affair’ of 1920, when the mayor Charles Mackay, shot a young gay man, D'Arcy Cresswell. The affair and subsequent events reveal the perilous existence of homosexual men at that time and how society conspired to control and punish them.

Visit the National Library website for information about how to join in person or online for this event.

Image of Leafa Wilson at Matariki Ki Tokoroa and artworks from the space.

Spotlight: Cultural activator causing something to start

Activate – to cause something to start. A movement, a sourdough starter, charcoal, mixed nuts – or in Leafa Wilson’s case, a creative community.

Last October, Leafa Wilson (Olga Krause) began her contract as South Waikato Cultural Activator with gusto, with plans to whip up art hurricanes in Tīrau, Putāruru, and Tokoroa. This was operated under Manatū Taonga Ministry for Culture and Heritage’s year-long Creative Arts Recovery and Employment fund program pilot.

“A tonne of these places went dead line with the arts,” shared Leafa. “The cultural activation role was created to enable people to rediscover, and learn to celebrate, their creativity and tell their own stories. Now – they can tell their own stories.”

Read Creative Waikato’s article celebrating Leafa Wilson’s time as South Waikato Cultural Activator.

Contact us

If you have any questions about any of our funding opportunities, please email us at Support.Culture@mch.govt.nz. 

More information

For the latest information on other initiatives in the Arts and Culture COVID Recovery Programme, see the Manatū Taonga website
If you have specific questions, email us at support.culture@mch.govt.nz
Received this email via a colleague? Why not subscribe to receive the next update directly.