Latest news with #ManatūTaongaMinistryforCultureandHeritage
The Spinoff
9 hours ago
- Business
- The Spinoff
Slashed Matariki funding threatens to leave communities in the dark
Government funding for Matariki events was cut by nearly half this year. With some festivals now cancelled or scaled back, Liam Rātana investigates what's been lost – and what's still happening. Just four years after Matariki became a public holiday, the future of our public celebrations is looking less certain. In Budget 2024, the coalition government slashed funding for Matariki events by 45% – dropping from $5.5m to $3m. For many communities, the impact was immediate, with events cancelled, scaled back, or organisers left scrambling for alternative funding. Some organisers have described this year's funding process as a 'lolly scramble'. And others say the cuts have made it harder to plan with confidence or secure support for multi-year programming. The budget decision was made alongside mounting evidence that Matariki is delivering significant benefits – both cultural and economic. According to research commissioned by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, electronic card spending over the Matariki long weekend in 2024 reached nearly $607m. That's a 2.7% increase from 2023 and a 10.8% jump from 2019, the year before the holiday was introduced. The arts and recreation sector, while making up just 2.8% of total retail spend, saw the largest year-on-year increase, up 32.7% from 2023 and 61.7% from 2019. But the value of Matariki isn't measured by spending alone. Recent research by Manatū Taonga Ministry for Culture and Heritage also shows a deepening public understanding of the holiday's meaning. The 2024 New Zealanders' Engagement with Matariki report found that while general awareness of Matariki remains steady, there's been a notable increase in people recognising it as a time for reflection, whānau connection, cultural learning and environmental appreciation. Roughly 70% of survey respondents agreed that Matariki brought people together through local events, helped connect them with te ao Māori and encouraged a deeper connection to the natural world. These are intangible benefits that speak to Matariki's wider role in national identity and social cohesion. That role has become even more important in a time of increasing political and cultural division. A March 2024 report by the Helen Clark Foundation found that less than half of New Zealanders agreed with positive statements about social cohesion in Aotearoa. The report warned that ongoing polarisation could weaken trust in institutions and make long-term planning more difficult for businesses, communities and individuals alike. While Matariki alone won't fix social cohesion, it has become a rare moment in the national calendar that brings people together around shared values. The government has defended the decision to cut funding, with prime minister Christopher Luxon telling media during last year's Matariki celebrations: 'We're going through some tough times, we have to make some tough choices across the whole of government spending.' Some of those choices have already had visible consequences. Free public events like the Tuturu Matariki Festival in Southland and Matariki Kaiapoi in Canterbury have either been cancelled or scaled back due to budget restraints. Te Puni Kōkiri, which took over responsibility for administering Matariki event funding from Manatū Taonga in 2024, was approached for updated data on this year's funding allocations. No response was received in time for publication. In 2023, Manatū Taonga allocated $3m across 121 applications through the Matariki Ahunga Nui Fund. By comparison, Te Puni Kōkiri's 2023/2024 Te Pū Harakeke Fund allocated just $211,349 across 46 organisations. Despite the cuts, hundreds of events are still taking place around the country this Matariki. Many organisers have turned to local councils, iwi authorities or philanthropic partners to keep celebrations going. The official national event will be hosted this year by Ngāti Rangi at Tirorangi Marae in Ohakune, with a national broadcast scheduled for Friday morning. But with central government support reduced and demand for funding remaining high, organisers say the sustainability of these events is becoming harder to guarantee. As Matariki continues to evolve as a public holiday, questions remain about how it will be resourced – and whether communities will have the support they need to keep the kaupapa alive.
Scoop
a day ago
- Politics
- Scoop
Honouring Service And Sacrifice: 75th Anniversary Of The Korean War
This year marks the 75th anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean War, a pivotal moment in global history and a significant chapter in New Zealand's military heritage. A national commemorative service will be held at Pukeahu National War Memorial Park in Wellington on Wednesday 25 June 2025 from 11am. "The 25th of June is a day where people can take the opportunity to honour and reflect on the courage and sacrifice of New Zealanders who served in the Korean War," said Stacey Richardson, Director Office of the Secretary at Manatū Taonga Ministry for Culture and Heritage. The commemoration is held on the anniversary of the beginning of the Korean War on 25 June 1950 when communist North Korean forces crossed the 38th Parallel into South Korea. "New Zealand was one of the first nations to respond to the United Nations Security Council's call for military assistance following the invasion of South Korea in June 1950. "Over 6,000 New Zealanders served during the Korean War. Around 4,700 New Zealand Army personnel served in Kayforce, with about 1300 others on Royal New Zealand Navy frigates. "The ramifications of this war were felt across the world and in Aotearoa. Forty-five New Zealanders lost their lives, and many more were wounded or affected by the conflict". "Our national commemorations provide a space for individual and collective reflection. They bring together veterans, service personnel, communities and members of the public to honour together and reflect on the enduring legacy of war. "As we reflect, we can also look forward. We acknowledge the enduring bonds forged between Aotearoa and the Republic of Korea, which have shaped the strong partnership our nations enjoy today," said Richardson. Veterans, their whānau, and members of the public are warmly invited to attend the national commemoration. Anyone who would like to attend should arrive at the Hall of Memories at Pukeahu National War Memorial Park at 10.45am for an 11.00am start.
Scoop
04-06-2025
- General
- Scoop
Manatū Taonga Releases Draft Report On Culture In A Digital Age
Manatū Taonga Ministry for Culture and Heritage has released a draft Long-term Insights Briefing - a futures-thinking report - on culture in the digital age. A Long-term Insights Briefing (LTIB) provides analysis and information about medium and long-term trends, risks, and opportunities that may affect New Zealand. The topic for this LTIB is: Culture in the Digital Age: How will technology change the way New Zealanders create, share and protect their stories in 2040 and beyond? "Our draft LTIB looks into how AI and other digital technologies will reshape creative expression, content distribution and cultural preservation," says Secretary for Culture and Heritage Leauanae Laulu Mac Leauanae. "By 2040, our cultural sectors will be deeply intertwined with artificial intelligence (AI) and other emerging technologies. These advancements offer unprecedented opportunities for new and exciting ways of creating, sharing, and protecting our stories. On the other hand, they can also introduce significant ethical, legal, cultural and governance challenges that we should address thoughtfully and collaboratively. "We want to open up the discussion and invite the public to give us their thoughts on what this digital future will look like for Aotearoa, and what we need to think about now," says Leauanae. The public can also enter an art competition to design the cover of the final report.
