The Green Party's arts, cultural and heritage policy has been released. Green Party arts spokesperson Metiria Turei says the arts play an important role in New Zealand's economic as well as cultural development, so it is vital to support, enhance and develop the sector.

"Our arts culture is an integral aspect of our national identity. Investing in the arts is a win-win situation on both social and economic grounds."The Green Party's arts, cultural and heritage policy has been released. Green Party arts spokesperson Metiria Turei says the arts play an important role in New Zealand's economic as well as cultural development, so it is vital to support, enhance and develop the sector.

"Our arts culture is an integral aspect of our national identity. Investing in the arts is a win-win situation on both social and economic grounds."She is excited by the strong Maori aspect of the policy, support for the promotion of Maori art, language and culture, and mechanisms for supporting artists in their careers.

The Green Party advocates a range of measures to enhance New Zealand's arts, cultural and heritage sectors, including:
- Better protection for historically and culturally significant places and buildings
- Valuing and protecting the unique heritage of Maori arts
- Increasing support for the arts sector to ensure production of quality music, films and arts programmes
- Extending economic incentives for film production to locally written and produced films
- Establishing an arts and cultural promotion unit within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade
- Making donations to arts organisations tax deductible
- Ensuring copyright and digital rights of artworks are retained by the artist
- Establishing a national fund for earthquake strengthening of heritage buildings

Society should facilitate affordable access to the Arts.

Public funding of the Arts must be transparent and sustainable.

Historically and culturally significant places and buildings should be protected.

The unique taonga of toi o Maori must be valued and protected.

Communication and Co-ordination

Promote improved communication and co-ordination between government ministries and stakeholders involved in the Arts.

Support an overhaul of the arts infrastructure and funding provisions with a focus on increasing participation in community arts, arts education and the professional arts.

Tangata Whenua and the Arts

Support and promote the right of Maori to protect both traditional and contemporary Maori art.

Remain committed to a dedicated Maori Television broadcasting service.

Support Iwi Radio throughout Aotearoa New Zealand to be an independent, secure and successful Maori broadcaster.

Media and the Arts

Support strategies to ensure the production of quality Aotearoa New Zealand music, films and programmes.

Extend economic incentives currently offered only to large overseas film productions to locally written and produced smaller budget films.

Education, Community and the Arts

Recognise the value of community arts and community arts organisations through Creative Communities funding.

Provide funding for Arts Education officers (from the Ministry of Education) to support the Arts Education strategy and ensure it's accessibility and implementation.

Economic Development and the Arts

Establish an arts and cultural promotion unit within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Make contributions to bona fide artist organisations tax deductible along the same lines as charity donations.

Ensure that copyright of a commissioned work is retained by the artist, not the commissioner.

Re-launch the Authors' Fund under the umbrella of the Ministry of Culture and Heritage.

Establish a Literature Commission to act as a champion for New Zealand writing and writers, examine issues such as copyright and digital rights and examine ways of raising remuneration for writers.

Protecting and Preserving our Heritage

Support the creation of a National Policy Statement for heritage under the Resource Management Act.

Support central and local government funding schemes for owners of heritage buildings.

Establish a well resourced national funding scheme for the earthquake strengthening of heritage buildings.

* The full arts, culture and heritage policy is available at www.greens.org.nz

Green Party MPs Metiria Turei and Sue Kedgley, and Green Party candidate/veteran actor Rawiri Paratene spoke at the launch at the Viaduct Basin in Auckland.

Press release: Green Party

28/10/08