Media Centre
Rewi Alley series to premiere in China
7 July 2010
A television series celebrating the life of an extraordinary New Zealander, will premiere in China on Friday to coincide with New Zealand Day at the Shanghai World Expo. The series on Rewi Alley will air on CCTV, which has an audience of 300 million viewers.
Appointments to Creative New Zealand Arts Board
7 July 2010
Artist and advocate Anne Rush and the former chair of the Whitirea Community Law Centre Jocelyn Afford have been appointed as members of the Creative New Zealand Arts Board, and current chair of the board Alan Sorrell has been re-appointed, Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Christopher Finlayson announced today.
$6 million for Hawke's Bay Museum and Art Gallery
2 July 2010
The Hawke's Bay Museum and Art Gallery will receive a Government grant of $6 million for its redevelopment project, Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Christopher Finlayson announced today.
Sir Peter Jackson review of Film Commission welcomed
1 July 2010
Arts Culture and Heritage Minister Christopher Finlayson has received the final report of award winning director and producer Sir Peter Jackson and film academic David Court, reviewing the New Zealand Film Commission legislation.
Peace celebrations
18 June 2010
A neglected part of New Zealand's First World War story, the elaborate peace celebrations held in July 1919, is now being told on Ministry for Culture and Heritage website www.nzhistory.net.nz
Major new feature on Waikato region in Te Ara – Encyclopedia of New Zealand
28 May 2010
A significant new feature on the Waikato region will be launched at the Waikato Museum on 31 May.
$10m extra for National War Memorial park
21 May 2010
Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Christopher Finlayson today confirmed the government’s commitment to the National War Memorial precinct at Buckle St in Wellington.
Online Events Calendar Partnership Delivers Results
17 March 2010
The private/public partnership between Eventfinder and the Ministry for Culture and Heritage is bringing more events and attractions to a bigger audience, according to both organisations’ chief executives.
Launch of Te Ara Theme: ‘the Economy and the City’
10 March 2010
The Economy and the City’, the fifth theme of Te Ara – the Encyclopaedia of New Zealand was launched by Steven Joyce, Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Transport, and Tertiary Education on Thursday 11 March 2010.
Record Number of Kapa Haka Groups in Rotorua
5 March 2010
A record number of kapa haka groups competing in Rotorua this weekend at the Te Arawa Kapa Haka Regional Festival augurs well for the development of the Māori performing arts, according to the Ministry for Culture and Heritage.
Te Ara wants your stories of country schools
3 February 2009
This week thousands of children return to school, in towns and cities and in rural centres dotted throughout the countryside.
Updated History of New Zealands Flags
1 February 2009
On Waitangi Day 2010 the national Maori flag will for the first time fly over the Auckland Harbour Bridge. It will also fly at Parliament, Premier House, the Governor-General's official residences in Auckland and Wellington, and a number of government departments.
'Super' Website to Promote Events
22 December 2009
Two New Zealand online event calendars are joining forces to create a one-stop shop connecting cultural providers and consumers.
Santa Parades - Past and Present
17 December 2009
A revamped history on Ministry for Culture and Heritage website www.nzhistory.net.nz tells the story of New Zealand’s unique Christmas parade tradition.
NZHistory.net.nz Publication and Online Resource on the Battle of River Plate
17 December 2009
This weekend official commemorations will mark the 70th anniversary of the Battle of River Plate. In Wellington commemorations will be held at the National War Memorial on Saturday 12 December at 9am. The Governor-General, the Hon Sir Anand Satyanand, and the Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Hon Christopher Finlayson, along with New Zealand battle veterans will attend the event.
2010 Awards in History Announced
10 December 2009
New history projects including pre-Treaty cultural encounters, rural fire-fighting, and a history of an iconic Wellington gallery will receive funding from the New Zealand History Research Trust Fund.
Funding for Waitangi Day 2010 Commemorative Events
26 November 2009
A three day Waitangi festival in Northland featuring thirty waka, over 300 Kai hoe (rowers) a dawn karakia, sports events, a church service and a sunset ceremony is one of 77 events receiving funding announced today from the Ministry for Culture and Heritage’s Commemorating Waitangi Day Fund.
Armistice Day commemorations
10 November 2009
Two minutes silence at 11.00am and eleven tolls of the Peace Bell will signal the beginning of the Armistice Day commemorative service at the National War Memorial tomorrow.
What’s in a name?
13 August 2009
Origins of place names Cape Turnagain and Cape Kidnappers, as well as how Havelock North started as Havelock, a translation of the longest place name in the world and why there’s an apostrophe in the name Hawke’s Bay are all explained on the newly launched Hawke’s Bay entry on Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand.
Digital futures discussion document
11 August 2009
The options for the use of radio spectrum after digital switch-over of television services is the subject of a discussion paper released today.
Funding for 2010 Waitangi Day Activities
6 August 2009
Applications for funding to commemorate Waitangi Day are now being accepted, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage announced today.
Silent oral history signs the way ahead
31 July 2009
Oral history in New Zealand will break new ground following this year’s allocation of awards for recording memories and life stories.
Culture is extremely important to our sense of national identity
21 July 2009
New research shows that almost three quarters of those surveyed think that culture and cultural activities are very, extremely or critically important to our sense of national identity.
New appointments to Film Commission
13 July 2009
Arts Culture and Heritage Minister Christopher Finlayson announced today three new appointments, including a new chair, to the board of the New Zealand Film Commission.
New feature ‘Antarctica’ on nzhistory.net.nz
9 July 2009
A new feature on NZHistory.net.nz tells the stories of the people, events and places associated with Antarctica and New Zealand in a journey of time.
Ministry for Culture and Heritage on sentencing
2 July 2009
The Chief Executive of the Ministry for Culture and Heritage, Lewis Holden acknowledged today the sentence imposed on TV3 for its breach of the Broadcasting Act restrictions on Sunday morning advertising.
Peter Jackson to review Film Commission
18 June 2009
Government has announced a review of the New Zealand Film Commission to be led by New Zealand film-maker, Peter Jackson. David Court, Head of Screen Business at the Australian Film, Television & Radio School will be working with Peter as part of the review team.
Appointment to the Broadcasting Standards Authority
17 June 2009
Broadcasting Minister Dr Jonathan Coleman today announced the appointment of Ms Mary Shanahan to the Broadcasting Standards Authority.
Otago - self confidence and innovation
8 May 2009
Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand launched the Otago places entry on its web site at a special function at the Dunedin Public Art Gallery today.
Appointment of new Chief Executive
28 April 2009
The State Services Commissioner, Iain Rennie, today announced the appointment of Lewis Holden to the position of Chief Executive of the Ministry for Culture and Heritage.
Ministry for Culture and Heritage wins hearing
24 April 2009
The Ministry for Culture and Heritage said today, “We are satisfied with the Court’s decision that TV3 had breached section 81 of the Broadcasting Act 1989, when it screened advertising on three consecutive Sunday mornings during coverage of the Rugby World Cup,” said Acting Chief Executive, Dr Bronwyn Dalley.
Media advisory for Anzac Day
24 April 2009
Explore the history of New Zealanders at war through the NZHistory.net.nz website. Produced by historians at the Ministry for Culture and Heritage, this site is the most authoritative and accurate online source of information about this country’s war history and ANZAC Day especially.
Government concludes broadcasting regulatory review
7 April 2009
Broadcasting Minister, Dr Jonathan Coleman, and Communications and Information Technology Minister, Steven Joyce, today announced that the previous government’s digital broadcasting regulatory review will not proceed further.
Calling all Oral Historians
24 March 2009
Applications are being called for this year’s Awards in oral history. More than $1.25 million has been awarded to over 300 New Zealand oral history projects since 1991 by the Australian Sesquicentennial Gift Trust for Awards in Oral History.
Minister releases cultural employment report
26 February 2009
The cultural sector is an increasingly important source of jobs in New Zealand according to a report, Employment in the Cultural Sector, released today by Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Christopher Finlayson.
West Coast winners
23 February 2009
West Coasters can see live footage of Greymouth’s winning team competing in the 1977 series of ‘Top Town’ in the new West Coast section of Te Ara, the encyclopedia of New Zealand, launched today in Greymouth.
New Zealand War Dead Honoured in South Africa
19 February 2009
A memorial to 23 members of the New Zealand 7th Contingent who lost their lives in the Battle of Langverwacht in February 1902 is being re-dedicated in South Africa this week.
- See related media release
- See background information
- See related image
Waitangi Day 2009 Commemorative Events
14 January 2009
The Ministry for Culture and Heritage today announced $276,500 of Government funding for Waitangi Day events throughout New Zealand. The grants are given to encourage widespread participation in Waitangi Day events.
Career Girls star in Te Ara’s latest entry
21 November 2008
www.TeAra.govt.nz’s latest theme ‘The Settled Landscape’ tells the story of country life in New Zealand. And sheep.
Ninetieth Anniversary of the Influenza Pandemic
14 November 2008
This month is the anniversary of the global influenza pandemic or ‘Spanish Flu’ which coincided with the end of the war.
Cultural Well-Being now online
29 September 2008
www.culturalwellbeing.govt.nz - a portal to cultural well-being resources is a new website dedicated to Cultural Well-Being. It has a range of useful tools to help local authorities promote the cultural well-being of their communities.
New Zealand Book Month
September is New Zealand Book Month and www.NZHistory.net.nz is celebrating the event with ‘30 reasons to love New Zealand books and writing’ at www.nzhistory.net.nz/culture/nz-book-month.
See also:
- New Zealand Book Month quiz.
- News media can find related images here
The Main Trunk Line – 100 years of travel
7 August 2008
After two decades of construction, the first train north bound on the 680-kilometre Main Trunk Line left Wellington 100 years ago on 7 August 1908.
Eight new non-commercial FM radio licences throughout New Zealand
4 August 2008
The Ministry for Culture and Heritage has allocated eight new FM radio licences for non-commercial community broadcasting.
New Zealand’s Olympic Story
1 August 2008
A record 182 New Zealanders will compete at the Beijing Olympics in just a week’s time. Amid the building excitement, the team at www.NZHistory.net.nz have compiled the inspiring story of New Zealanders at the Olympics in the century 1908 to 2008.
Kiwis go to the polls
11 July 2008
July 14 2008 marks 155 years since New Zealanders’ first trip to the polling booths. To mark the occasion NZHistory.net.nz has just launched a new feature on the history of election days.
Air quality tests at Mt Cook School show traffic fume levels within guidelines
7 July 2008
Awards for capturing New Zealand stories
7 July 2008
Happy marriages turning to custard and the Auckland Harbour Bridge are just two subjects New Zealanders will hear about in generations to come following this year’s Australian Sesquicentennial Gift Trust Awards in Oral History.
Wanganui region – from the mountains to the sea…to the big carrot
10 June 2008
Te Ara – Encyclopedia of New Zealand launches the Wanganui entry of its Places theme on Monday 16 June, 5:30pm at the War Memorial Hall.
www.TeAra.govt.nz covers the breadth and depth of the region from the majestic Mount Ruapehu to the Turakina Highland Games.
For further information contact:
- TeAra.govt.nz Jock Phillips, General Editor Te Ara 04 496 6346 / 027 2875 672
- Elizabeth Griffin, Communications, 04 496 6185
Matariki
4 June 2008
Matariki is the Māori name for the small cluster of stars also known as the Pleiades or the Seven Sisters, in the Taurus constellation. It rises just once a year and in 2008 three Ministry for Culture and Heritage websites will guide New Zealanders through this special time of the year.
Launch of VietnamWar.govt.nz
29 May 2008
A new era in New Zealand’s digital history began with the launch of www.VietnamWar.govt.nz, asking people to share their stories, experiences and memorabilia of the Vietnam War.
For further information contact:
- Bronwyn Dalley, Chief Historian, Ministry for Culture and Heritage 04 496 6334 / 021 2550 273
- Paul Diamond, Oral Historian, Ministry for Culture and Heritage 04 496 6338 / 021 580 106
Music month
1 May 2008
In May the Ministry for Culture and Heritage website www.NZHistory.net.nz harked back to New Zealand’s musical roots with ‘31 Reasons to love New Zealand music’.
Military mascots
29 April 2008
A new era in New Zealand’s digital history began with the launch of www.VietnamWar.govt.nz, asking people to share their stories, experiences and memorabilia of the Vietnam War.