31 Aug 2025

Government releases long-awaited creative and culture strategy

From Culture 101, 12:30 pm on 31 August 2025

The government has released a long-awaited creative and culture strategy to boost the industry by 2030. Launched by Arts Minster, Paul Goldsmith Amplify mandates the Ministry of Culture and Heritage to work with other government agencies to create tangible changes. The strategy has three pillars; investing for maximum impact, nurturing talent, and reducing barriers to growth. Key targets have been set including growing the sector to at least $22 billion, a 10 percent increase the number of Kiwis engaging with the arts and 5000 more people to work in the creative and cultural sectors. The changes will be implemented in a staggered process over the next five years. The first draft was released last November and hundreds of submissions followed both supporting and criticising various aspects. The minister has described it as a "living document". Composer, performer and producer and the CEO of Creative Waikato, Dr Jeremy Mayall, joins Culture 101 to take a closer look at how tangible the goals are and what challenges lie ahead.