Annex — Budget Initiatives

Arts, Culture and Heritage

Heritage EQUIP - Continuation of Funding

This initiative provides funding to continue the Heritage EQUIP programme, which supports seismic strengthening of privately owned heritage buildings, particularly in regional New Zealand. The funding will enable more grants in response to increased demand arising from compliance with earthquake-prone buildings' regulatory requirements.

Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga Cost Pressure

This initiative will adapt and open Kate Sheppard House as a heritage and public education space and help ease financial pressures arising from significantly increased costs for insurance, information technology systems, property management, accommodation and staffing.

Meet Demand for the New Zealand Screen Production Grant

This initiative will meet increased demand from eligible New Zealand productions, in line with the demand-driven New Zealand Screen Production Grant - New Zealand. Together with the New Zealand Screen Production Grant - International (for which MBIE is responsible), these grants promote industry development and cultural benefits for New Zealand.

Saving the Crown's Audio-Visual Collections

This initiative ensures audio-visual heritage content owned by the Crown and stored in at-risk formats is preserved for future generations. Without digital preservation, over 95 per cent of at-risk content, including the Television New Zealand Archive, will be lost in less than a decade. Protected by the Public Records Act 2005 and National Library of New Zealand Act 2003, this taonga includes a diverse range of broadcast news and current affairs, documentaries, TV series, along with films, music, oral histories and live recordings of community events.

Seismic Upgrade and Refurbishment of Turnbull House

This initiative will fund a business case for the seismic upgrade and refurbishment of the Category 1 listed Turnbull House as a visitor attraction and function centre or office accommodation. Legislation requires that Wellington City Council serves a notice for its demolition in February 2023 if seismic strengthening does not go ahead.

Supporting New Zealand Symphony Orchestra Delivery

This initiative supports the delivery of the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra through strengthening its balance sheet.

Sustaining Crucial Public Media Platforms

This initiative provides funding to alleviate financial pressures on crucial public media platforms that deliver vital content to under-served audiences. The platforms include the Pacific Media Network (PMN), disability media (captioning and audio description) and community access radio stations.