The Pacific heritage arts research project provides a broad overview of the health of heritage arts amongst the seven main Pacific communities in New Zealand.

The communities are Samoan, Tongan, Fijian, Cook Island, Niuean, Tuvaluan and Tokelauan.

The research was identified as a priority in Creative New Zealand’s Strategic Plan for 2007-2010 and will be used by the agency to develop a strategy supporting and strengthening Pacific communities to pass on their heritage arts practice.

Creative New Zealand defines heritage arts as those which reflect a particular customary practice or cultural tradition. The research project consists of two reports:

• Massey University’s Research Management Services gathered qualitative information on the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats to heritage arts. This work was undertaken through focus groups with Pacific communities, interviews with Pacific leaders and two case studies. An executive summary of this report is attached as Appendix 1.
• Creative New Zealand analysed the history of Pacific communities in New Zealand, the funding history of Creative New Zealand’s Pacific Arts Committee and other sources of funding available to the committee. An executive summary of this report is attached as Appendix 2.

The research found that while some artforms, such as performing arts, tivaevae and Samoan tatau, are thriving others, such as canoe building and aspects of weaving, are proving difficult to maintain.