Creative New Zealand review

• Ministry of Culture and Heritage

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12 March 2010The NZ Government's review of Creative New Zealand’s governance structure aims to improve efficiency and make the best investment of resources for the benefit of New Zealand artists and arts organisations.

A review of Creative New Zealand’s governing legislation was promised in the National Party’s arts culture and heritage policy in the 2008 election. The Ministry for Culture and Heritage, working with Creative New Zealand, Te Puni Kōkiri and the Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs, carried out the review, as well as targeted consultation with the arts sector.

The review recommends the creation of a single board responsible for policy, strategy and funding allocation, replacing the current more unwieldy division of responsibilities between four separate councils and committees including the Arts Council, the Arts Board, Te Waka Toi and the Pacific Arts Committee.

The proposed streamlined board would have up to thirteen members, including a minimum of four members with knowledge of Māori arts and at least two with knowledge of Pacific arts. Under the existing structure there are 28 board and committee members.

It is estimated that the governance reforms will also result in direct cost savings of approximately $200,000 per annum and will free staff up to concentrate on core responsibilities to the arts sector, rather than servicing bureaucracy.

This report provides a summary of the review's recommendations.