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Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Maggie Barry has today welcomed the confirmation of a series of nationwide events to mark the 175th anniversary of the Treaty of Waitangi in 2015.

Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Maggie Barry today unveils a public sculpture in Napier called “The Gold of the Kowhai”.

The gilded work, by New Zealand sculptor Paul Dibble, stands close to four metres high and is cast in bronze with 24-carat gold leaf.

“This is a resplendent representation of New Zealand’s unofficial national flower, by one of our leading sculptors. It has found an ideal home outside MTG Hawke’s Bay,” says Ms Barry. 

Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Maggie Barry has congratulated Dunedin on becoming the first New Zealand city to be internationally recognised as a UNESCO City of Literature.

“I’m delighted that Dunedin has achieved this significant milestone. As a cultural hub of the South, this is a testament to the city’s literary heritage and creativity,” says Ms Barry.

City of Literature is part of UNESCO’s Creative Cities Network, which aims for cities to work together towards cultural diversity and sustainable urban development.

The Museum of Wellington City and Sea will receive a government grant of $1.3 million for its redevelopment project and earthquake strengthening, Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Maggie Barry announced this evening.

Ms Barry made the announcement at an event to mark the museum’s 15^th birthday celebrations.

“This grant acknowledges the significance of the Museum of City and Sea’s collection to both the wider Wellington region and on a national scale,” says Ms Barry.

New Zealand has achieved an important milestone with the first ever television co-production agreement being signed by any country with China, say Trade Minister Tim Groser and Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Maggie Barry.

In reaching the agreement, an amendment to the China-NZ FTA was required and marked by a signing in an exchange of letters between Mr Groser and his Chinese counterpart, Minister Gao Hucheng.

Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Maggie Barry has today launched a free app to help people explore New Zealand’s early history.

The Heritage Trails ‘Path to Nationhood’ app has been developed by Heritage New Zealand and includes six tours of historic Northland. It is free to downloadon smartphones and tablets.

The tours tell the stories of some of the earliest encounters between Māori and Pākehā prior to the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840.

Statistics Minister Craig Foss today commemorated Armistice Day with the launch of a WW100 infographic.

“The First World War was a significant event in New Zealand’s history — it helped define us as a nation and it continues to have a lasting impact,” Mr Foss says.

“I am proud to be able to tell the story of this important event through statistics.”

The First World War - Changing the Fabric of our Nation infographic has been developed by Statistics New Zealand in partnership with the WW100 Programme Office.

In her first official overseas visit new Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister, and lead Minister for New Zealand’s WW100 programme, Maggie Barry will attend the 96th anniversary commemorations of Armistice Day in Europe.

Ms Barry will be supporting the All Blacks when they play England at Twickenham, where poppies will be worn on the player’s uniforms and a moment’s silence will be observed as a mark of respect.

The amazing range of Pacific arts in New Zealand was celebrated tonight at an award ceremony in Wellington.

Minister for Pacific Peoples Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga congratulated all the winners of the Creative New Zealand Arts Pasifika Awards 2014.

“These awards acknowledge the excellence and innovation in Pacific arts in New Zealand,” says Mr Lotu-Iiga. “They are the only national awards to recognise Pacific artists across a range of art forms.