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The Government today announced changes to the structure and level of support for overseas and New Zealand film and television productions to ensure the further development of New Zealand’s screen industry.

The new changes are designed to encourage the growth of mid-sized New Zealand-based productions that can compete successfully on the world stage; while also increasing the competitiveness of our incentives for international productions in the short to medium term.

The Government today announced it has signed a memorandum of understanding with Lightstorm Entertainment and Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation that will see the next three Avatar films made in New Zealand.

The announcement was made by Prime Minister John Key, Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce and Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Christopher Finlayson at Wellington alongside Avatar Director James Cameron, Producer Jon Landau, and Twentieth Century Fox Film co-President of Worldwide Theatrical Marketing and Distribution Paul Hanneman.

French Associate Minister for Defence, in charge of Veterans’ Affairs, Monsieur Kader Arif and New Zealand Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Christopher Finlayson have signed a letter of intent regarding centenary commemorations of the First World War at the Auckland War Memorial Museum today.

The Ministers met in Auckland and reaffirmed the deep friendship between the two nations stemming from shared experiences on the battlefields of the First World War.

A new history of New Zealand’s involvement in the First World War and its effect on the nation, New Zealand and the First World War 1914-1919 by Damien Fenton, was launched by Prime Minister John Key, Governor-General Lt Gen the Right Hon Sir Jerry Mateparae, and Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Christopher Finlayson at Government House in Wellington this evening.

Internal Affairs Minister Chris Tremain today announced 30 projects commemorating the centenary of the First World War have been granted $2.7 million in funding by the New Zealand Lottery Grants Board.

“World War One had a considerable impact on New Zealand’s character, identity and sense of place in the world. The New Zealand Lottery Grants Board recognises the importance of this centenary event to our nation and has set aside over $17 million to fund community initiatives and projects,” Minister Tremain said.

“Protecting cultural heritage during armed conflict helps create the conditions for peace,” Minister for the Arts Culture and Heritage Christopher Finlayson said in Paris today.

Mr Finlayson was at the headquarters of the UN’s Education, Science and Culture Organisation (UNESCO, where he formally deposited New Zealand’s treaty documents to join the Protocols to the 1954 Hague Convention on the Protection of Culture in the event of Armed Conflict.

New Zealand has another strong presence at the Frankfurt Book Fair, which opened today in Germany, building on the success of its Guest of Honour appearance last year, Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Christopher Finlayson said.

The book fair, the world’s largest media and content fair, had unprecedented success in 2012 with New Zealand’s Guest of Honour programme.

Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Christopher Finlayson and Defence Minister Jonathan Coleman are holding talks this week with visiting UK Minister for International Security Strategy, Dr Andrew Murrison.

“As the UK’s Special Representative for the Centenary Commemoration of the First World War, Dr Murrison’s visit to New Zealand is a good opportunity to discuss the commemoration programme,” says Mr Finlayson.

Work towards the National War Memorial Park is progressing well and is on target to be open in time to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Gallipoli landings on 25 April 2015, Transport Minister Gerry Brownlee and Culture and Heritage Minister Christopher Finlayson said today on a visit to the construction site in Wellington’s Buckle Street.

The underpass and National War Memorial Park is the Government’s cornerstone project to acknowledge the Centenary of the First World War (the WW100 programme). 

Lawyer Paul Majurey and arts patron Dayle Mace have been appointed to the board of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, and current members Philip Carter and Wendy Lai have been reappointed, Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Christopher Finlayson announced today.

“The appointments of Paul Majurey and Dayle Mace and the reappointments of Philip Carter and Wendy Lai help ensure the Te Papa board has an appropriate and complementary mix of experience and skills,” Mr Finlayson said.

Dates for key New Zealand domestic and overseas commemorative and ceremonial events which will be be marked during the First World War centenary from 2014 to 2018 have been announced by Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Christopher Finlayson.

“The ceremonial programme has been designed to allow New Zealanders living at home and overseas to commemorate those aspects of the First World War that are important to their families”, Mr Finlayson said.

Culture and Heritage Minister Christopher Finlayson and Auckland Mayor Len Brown today announced an agreement to investigate in association with Te Papa the development of a national centre for cultural collections, exhibitions, education and touring to be situated in Manukau, Auckland.

Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage, Christopher Finlayson and Broadcasting Minister Craig Foss have welcomed the most recent addition to Te Ara – New Zealand’s online encyclopedia.

The ‘Daily Life, Sport and Recreation’ section of Te Ara went live on 5 September 2013 and catalogues Kiwi sporting successes and challenges from the beginning of settlement in New Zealand.

The Ministry of Culture and Heritage began work on Te Ara in 2002 and has been steadily adding to the online encyclopedia.

Paul McArthur has been appointed to the Board of the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and members Peter Diessl and Roger Taylor have been re-appointed, Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Christopher Finlayson announced today.

The government is pleased to be contributing $500,000 towards the construction of a C Company 28 Māori Battalion Memorial House on land adjacent to the Tairawhiti Museum, Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Christopher Finlayson announced today. 

“This grant has been given to ensure that the immense contribution of C Company members to this nation is recognised and remembered,” Mr Finlayson said. “C Company 28 Māori Battalion has a special place in the history of the region and New Zealand.”

Minister of Arts, Culture and Heritage Christopher Finlayson and Broadcasting Minister Craig Foss have welcomed collaboration that will lead to greater efficiencies and savings for Crown entities NZ On Air, the New Zealand Film Commission (NZFC) and The Broadcasting Standards Authority (BSA).

The three agencies are now based at the same location and have increased sharing of back office functions. A blessing was held this morning to mark the occasion.

The Government today announced changes to incentive schemes to encourage more television production being made in New Zealand and build on our world-class reputation for high-quality post production work, and innovative digital and visual effects.

It follows a comprehensive review of New Zealand's screen sector by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment and the Ministry for Culture and Heritage.

Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Christopher Finlayson has congratulated everyone who worked on acclaimed filmmaker Jane Campion's New Zealand-filmed mini-series Top of the Lake on receiving eight nominations in the 2013 Primetime Emmy Awards.

Top of the Lake was shot in Central Otago and received support from the Ministry of Culture and Heritage’s Screen Production Incentive Fund (SPIF), administered by the New Zealand Film Commission. The fund is available to medium to large scale productions that have significant New Zealand content.

Evan Williams of Auckland has been appointed Chair of the board of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa (Te Papa), Minister for Arts Culture and Heritage Christopher Finlayson announced today.

Mr Williams was appointed to the Te Papa Board in November 2011, and has been Deputy Chair since August 2012.

The Government is calling for applications for 2013/14 to its Regional Museums Policy fund for Capital Construction Projects, Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Christopher Finlayson announced today.

Work towards the National War Memorial Park is progressing well and is on target for the opening to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Gallipoli landings on 25 April 2015, Transport Minister Gerry Brownlee and Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Christopher Finlayson said today.

“The trench, above which the National War Memorial Park will be developed, is now visible along Buckle Street.

Internal Affairs Minister Chris Tremain today announced 17 projects commemorating the centenary of the First World War have been granted close to $1.7 million in funding by the New Zealand Lottery Grants Board.

“A total of $1,196,533 has gone to support sixteen community projects. In addition the Massey University Foundation has received a grant of $500,000 towards its three volumes of “The Centenary History of New Zealand and the First World War,” says Mr Tremain.

Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Christopher Finlayson today paid tribute to the life of author Barbara Anderson, who passed away yesterday aged 86.

“Barbara Anderson was one of our finest writers, and also one of the most inspiring, becoming an internationally successful author in her sixties,” Mr Finlayson said. “After completing Bill Manhire’s creative writing degree at Victoria University, she went on to write acclaimed short stories, novels, and autobiography.”

Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister and Wellington-based Member of Parliament Christopher Finlayson says he is very disappointed at the on-going inability of the Wellington City Council to get its act together and progress the Basin Reserve Flyover.

“This latest vote to do nothing is illustrative of a Council wasting time and ratepayer money when a decision should have been made some time ago,” he said.