Displaying 1 - 24 of 86 results.

Visitors and the public are invited tomorrow (Saturday 27 September) to walk through the newly constructed Arras Tunnel at the site of Pukeahu National War Memorial Park at Buckle Street in Wellington, Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Christopher Finlayson said today.

Mr Finlayson will officially open the Arras Tunnel at 10.50am tomorrow and immediately following that the public will be able to walk through the tunnel until 2.00pm.

  • Christopher Finlayson
  • Arts, Culture and Heritage

The Crown, Port Nicholson Block Settlement Trust (PNBST) and Wellington City Council today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) intended to ensure the heritage of the historically important Watts Peninsula, or Te Motu Kairangi, is protected, preserved and developed with sensitivity, Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Christopher Finlayson announced today.

Watts Peninsula is the prominent northern end of Miramar Peninsula.

  • Christopher Finlayson
  • Arts, Culture and Heritage

Prime Minister John Key, Transport Minister Gerry Brownlee and Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Christopher Finlayson today laid the last of 273 symbolic decorative poppies on the wall of the newly named Arras Tunnel, which runs underneath the National War Memorial Park site.

The poppy tiles symbolise the 2721 New Zealand fatalities in the Anzac campaign.

Mr Finlayson announced the tunnel will be named Arras Tunnel after the French town where the New Zealand Tunnelling Company dug huge networks of underground tunnels during the First World War.

  • Christopher Finlayson
  • Arts, Culture and Heritage

Wellington’s landmark Dominion Museum Building will be home to a temporary First World War commemorative museum exhibition, developed by Sir Peter Jackson, from April 2015 and through the duration of the centenary period.

The Commemorative Exhibition was announced today by Prime Minister John Key and Sir Peter, who is leading the creative team currently developing the exhibition.

  • Christopher Finlayson
  • Arts, Culture and Heritage

New Zealand’s programme for commemorations for the 2014-2019 centenary of the First World War, WW100, has been launched today by Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Christopher Finlayson.

The WW100 programme is reflective of New Zealand’s experience of the First World War on the battlefields of Turkey, Europe and Middle East, and on the home front.

  • Christopher Finlayson
  • Arts, Culture and Heritage

Applications for the 2015 Commemorating Waitangi Day Fund are now open, Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Christopher Finlayson announced today.

“The 6th of February next year marks the 175th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty at the Waitangi grounds,” Mr Finlayson “and this Fund will again allow the opportunity to commemorate the occasion in a variety of ways.”

  • Christopher Finlayson
  • Arts, Culture and Heritage

Peter Biggs and Bronwen Holdsworth have been appointed to the board of the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and members Donald Best, Lisa Bates and Roger Taylor have been reappointed, Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Christopher Finlayson announced today.

“I am pleased that Peter Biggs and Bronwen Holdsworth are joining the NZSO board, and that the three members will continue their stewardship,” Mr Finlayson said. “Their contribution at board level will ensure that our world class national orchestra remains in very good hands.”

  • Christopher Finlayson
  • Arts, Culture and Heritage

Professor Sir Peter Gluckman has been appointed to the board of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Christopher Finlayson announced today.

“I am very pleased that Sir Peter will contribute his experience and international standing to Te Papa,” Mr Finlayson said. “This will continue to ensure that the board retains a diverse range of skills and expertise.”

  • Christopher Finlayson
  • Arts, Culture and Heritage

Eight members have been appointed to the Māori Heritage Council, Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Christopher Finlayson announced today.

The Council assists Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga in developing and reflecting a bicultural view in the exercise of its powers and functions. It also advocates for the interests of Pouhere Taonga and Council relating to Māori heritage at any public or Māori forum.

  • Christopher Finlayson
  • Arts, Culture and Heritage

Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce and Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Christopher Finlayson today announced the formation of the Screen Advisory Board.

The Screen Advisory Board, announced by the Government in December 2013, will help the New Zealand screen sector create the skills and connections to be able to generate their own intellectual property, compete internationally and attract overseas finance.

  • Christopher Finlayson
  • Steven Joyce
  • Economic Development
  • Arts, Culture and Heritage

Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Christopher Finlayson announced today grants of $4.1 million to three museum projects around New Zealand in Akaroa, the Chatham Islands and Waitangi.

Christchurch City Council will receive a grant of $500,000 towards the earthquake recovery and rejuvenation project at Akaroa Museum. This project is on the Council’s list of its Top 30 projects requiring earthquake repair and strengthening.

  • Christopher Finlayson
  • Arts, Culture and Heritage

The government today announced the formation of Screen New Zealand, a new ‘virtual agency’ that formalises the collaboration of three existing screen agencies.

The New Zealand Film Commission, Film New Zealand and NZ On Air will work together on a number of specific projects under the umbrella of Screen NZ.

Screen NZ will play an important role delivering the government’s goals for the New Zealand screen sector – specifically to encourage more mid-sized, locally-driven productions and attract more international production.

  • Craig Foss
  • Christopher Finlayson
  • Broadcasting
  • Arts, Culture and Heritage

Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Chris Finlayson and Minister of Youth Affairs Nikki Kaye today announced $50,000 from the Ministry of Youth Development to support youth participation in the performing arts.

“This funding will encourage young people to develop their musical and performance abilities, grow their confidence and self-management skills, and connect them with industry experts who can foster their talent and creativity,” Mr Finlayson says.

  • Nikki Kaye
  • Christopher Finlayson
  • Youth Affairs
  • Arts, Culture and Heritage

Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Christopher Finlayson announced today the four young French-speaking New Zealanders who have been selected to represent New Zealand at the Bastille Day military parade in Paris on 14 July.

They are Aria Newfield and Milan Djurich, of Auckland, Isabel Kerr, of Wellington, and Alexander Summerlee, of Christchurch.

  • Christopher Finlayson
  • Arts, Culture and Heritage

Jacinda Ardern has yet again shown why New Zealanders do not trust the Labour Party even to read a Budget correctly, let alone write one, Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Christopher Finlayson said today.

Ms Ardern has made numerous incorrect statements about arts funding in Budget 2014, despite these errors being repeatedly pointed out in Parliament and online.

  • Christopher Finlayson
  • Arts, Culture and Heritage

Eight inaugural members have been appointed to the Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga Board, established by the Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga Act 2014, Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Christopher Finlayson announced today.

“I am delighted to announce the new Board appointees,” Mr Finlayson said. “Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga will ensure continued heritage protection, remove red-tape and recognise the heritage needs of New Zealanders.”

  • Christopher Finlayson
  • Arts, Culture and Heritage

The Regional Museums Policy fund for Capital Construction Projects is open for 2014/15 applications, Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Chris Finlayson announced today.

The fund assists regional museums and art galleries that house collections of national significance to improve access to and care of these collections through major construction projects. Applications for qualifying museum and art gallery redevelopment projects are considered on a contestable basis.

  • Christopher Finlayson
  • Arts, Culture and Heritage

A film and television co-production agreement signed overnight between New Zealand and Denmark will provide exciting opportunities for collaboration between both countries’ screen industries, Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Christopher Finlayson said today.

  • Christopher Finlayson
  • Arts, Culture and Heritage

The House tonight passed the Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga Bill. This Bill reforms the governance of the New Zealand Historic Places Trust in line with its status as a Crown entity and streamlines the bureaucracy needed to ensure heritage protection. The statutory name of the Historic Places Trust will change to Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga.

  • Christopher Finlayson
  • Arts, Culture and Heritage

A top architecture award for New Zealand’s Guest of Honour Pavilion at the Frankfurt Book Fair is further recognition of New Zealand’s excellent programme as Guest of Honour at the world’s largest content and media fair, Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Christopher Finlayson said today. 

The New Zealand Guest of Honour Pavilion at the 2012 Frankfurt Book Fair, designed by Patterson Associates and Inside Out Productions, received the International Architecture Award at the 2014 New Zealand Architecture Awards last night. 

  • Christopher Finlayson
  • Arts, Culture and Heritage

Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Christopher Finlayson announced that applications are now open for four young French-speaking New Zealanders to represent New Zealand on 14 July at the Bastille Day Parade in Paris.

  • Christopher Finlayson
  • Arts, Culture and Heritage

The Waitangi National Trust Board Amendment Bill, which will modernise the governance structure of the Waitangi National Trust Board, passed its first reading in the House today.

The board was set up in 1932 by Lord and Lady Bledisloe when they gifted to the people of New Zealand the 506-hectare Waitangi estate, which includes the Treaty Grounds.

Under the Waitangi National Trust Board Act 1932 the board is responsible for caring for one of New Zealand’s most significant heritage sites.

  • Christopher Finlayson
  • Arts, Culture and Heritage

The Government has released the criteria for the New Zealand Screen Production Grant (NZSPG) that comes into effect from today.

The NZSPG combines the Large Budget Screen Production Grant and Screen Production Incentive Fund into a new grant agreed by Cabinet in December 2013.

  • Christopher Finlayson
  • Steven Joyce
  • Economic Development
  • Arts, Culture and Heritage

Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Christopher Finlayson says he is pleased with the progress being made on the construction of the National War Memorial Park. 

“The project took a major step forward today with the pouring of the first of the concrete roof sections for the underpass,” said Mr Finlayson. “This not only marks the transition from a trench to a tunnel, it marks a major step towards completion of the Park which will be built over the top of the road.”

  • Christopher Finlayson
  • Arts, Culture and Heritage