Under Budget 23, $2.6m in funding was awarded for a contestable fund to support the creation of new Pacific-language media content.
This is part of a broader Pacific media package that recognises the important role Pacific media plays in meeting community needs for news and information, particularly regarding health, education and business. The package supports Pacific media organisations to continue to deliver quality content and to support Pacific media workforce development.
Pacific Media Network will administer the Fund on behalf of the Ministry. The promotional title of the fund is the Moana Reo Media Fund. The first round of funding is open for applications on 26 August to 13 September 2024 with another round set to open in mid-2025.
The Fund targets multimedia creators in the community to apply for support for their language-related projects – these can include all-manner of formats such as docuseries, animation, podcasts, and children’s TV.
The fund also has a focus on building the capability and experience of young Pacific creatives, with at least 20% of projects to involve young people under 40. It will support Pacific creatives to develop content that reaches audiences in New Zealand, across the Pacific region, and across the globe.
This funding signals the government’s commitment to support New Zealand’s Pacific media and content production sectors in a time of significant instability, and to place New Zealand as a regional leader in Pacific journalism and content creation.
For more information about the fund including application details visit pmn.co.nz/moana-reo-media-fund
