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Story: Arts funding and support

Public lending right

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Public lending right

The public lending right payment goes to authors who are citizens or residents of New Zealand and whose books are held in New Zealand libraries. It is a small annual payment in recognition of the royalty payments lost when readers borrow a book rather than buy it. First paid in 1973, the amount was $1.30 per copy held; in 2013 it was $2.65. Although the payment is based on holdings in libraries, most of which are local-government funded, the money comes from central government.

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Te Ara - The Encyclopedia of New Zealand

by Marguerite Hill

Courtesy of Wellington City Libraries

This item has been provided for private study purposes (such as school projects, family and local history research) and any published reproduction (print or electronic) may infringe copyright law. It is the responsibility of the user of any material to obtain clearance from the copyright holder.

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How to cite this page

Martin Durrant, Arts funding and support – Government support for the arts, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/42981/public-lending-right (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Martin Durrant, published 10 October 2013.