Maori arts and culture to receive funding boost

Maori events have received a significant boost from Auckland Council’s latest round of regional arts, culture and event funding.

The funding allocations were confirmed at a meeting of the Arts, Culture and Events Committee on Thursday at the Auckland Town Hall.

Events with a Maori focus were allocated 78 per cent of the council funding for the second round of grants, with 13 of the 20 events proposed for funding having a Maori link.

Implementing a strategic priority to focus on Maori, youth, and winter events, the committee approved $191,000 in grants, $149,900 of which were given to Maori events.

The specific priorities meant that funding applications were down on the first round of grants.

Only 26 applications were received for the second round of funding, totalling $741,133 – only half of the 45 applications put in for the first round, which requested more than $1.3 million.

Of the 26 applications, 20 were recommended for funding, with many of them receiving grants for significantly less funding than what was requested.

Senior adviser for the events unit, David McIntosh, said at the meeting it was expected that applications would be down due to the particular priorities in place.

"The first round was more of a general open round, while this round we promoted as being focused on these particular priority areas. So that doesn’t mean those events can’t come into the next general round, we were just trying to draw out these applications from some of the other areas."

The largest funding allocation went to HAKA HARD, an event which is set to showcase kapa haka performances, as well as attempting the Guinness World Record for the World’s Biggest Haka.

That event was given $31,005, while another kapa haka event - Te Ahurea Tino Rangatiratanga – was granted $25,000.

Seven other events received $10,000 or more in council funding.

Committee member Karen Wilson believes the focus on high profile Maori events will pay dividends.

"You can see the very large range of events which have some concentration on Maori, even with [events which will be on] TV and media you can see the diverse range. It’s good to see."

The events set to receive council funding will be taking place between May 1, 2016 and April 30, 2017.