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Story: Arts funding and support

Government funding bodies and agencies

  • New Zealand Literary Fund, 1946–88

  • New Zealand Film Commission, 1978–

  • Broadcasting Commission/NZ On Air, 1989–

  • Te Reo Whakapuaki Irirangi/Te Māngai Pāho, 1993–

  • Queen Elizabeth II Arts Council, 1963–94

  • Arts Council of New Zealand Toi Aotearoa/Creative New Zealand, 1994–

  • Department of Internal Affairs cultural section, 1946–91

  • Ministry of Cultural Affairs, 1991–2000

  • Manatū Taonga Ministry for Culture and Heritage, 2000–

  • Minister for the Arts, 1975–91

  • Minister of Cultural Affairs, 1991–2000

  • Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage, 2000–

Government funding, at first strongly influenced by politicians and public servants, soon became the business of external organisations. This diagram shows the development over time of funding bodies.

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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/interactive/42977/government-funding-bodies-and-agencies (accessed 3 June 2026).

Story by Martin Durrant, published 10 October 2013.