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Broadcasting Minister Craig Foss has welcomed the transfer of TVNZ’s archives to Crown guardianship today.

The archives, which include over 500,000 hours of original New Zealand television, will be managed on a day-to-day basis by Ngā Taonga Sound and Vision – the rebranded New Zealand Film Archives.

An event celebrating the transfer and rebranding was held in Wellington yesterday. 

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.

Broadcasting Minister Craig Foss says the Going Digital programme has wrapped up on time and under budget.

“All installations under the Government’s Targeted Assistance Package – about 32,000 of them - have now been completed,” Mr Foss says. 

“I am very pleased to have received a review of the Going Digital programme that shows it was delivered on time and under budget.

The TVNZ archive, including over 500,000 hours of original New Zealand television, is set to become much more accessible, Broadcasting Minister Craig Foss and Internal Affairs Minister Peter Dunne say.

The Government is in negotiations to transfer guardianship of the archive from TVNZ to the Ministry for Culture and Heritage on 1 August. It will be managed on a day-to-day basis by the New Zealand Film Archive.

Broadcasting Minister Craig Foss has today announced new appointments and reappointments to the Boards of Television New Zealand Ltd (TVNZ) and Radio New Zealand Ltd (RNZ).

Julia Raue is being appointed to the Board of TVNZ commencing on 1 May 2014 for a three year term. Joan Withers and Barrie Saunders have been reappointed as directors for further terms.

Broadcasting Minister Craig Foss has welcomed the NZ On Air Local Content Report released today, showing that Kiwi content makes up more than a third of free-to-view TV schedules.

“New Zealanders are reaping the benefits of a fast-changing media environment. The opportunities to watch home-grown NZ On Air funded content are greater than ever as online and time shifted viewing options increase in popularity.

Broadcasting Minister Craig Foss has welcomed an announcement that Attitude Pictures has been awarded the online broadcast rights for the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games.

Attitude Pictures is collaborating with NZ On Air, ACC and TVNZ to make coverage of the 2014 Paralympic Winter Games possible.

“I am delighted that New Zealanders will be able to watch our Paralympic athletes on either TVNZ or AttitudeLive.com.

Broadcasting Minister Craig Foss today announced the appointment of Donna Grant to the board of New Zealand On Air.

Ms Grant is currently national director of the National Institute of Performing Arts Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi. She is also executive director of the Manaakitanga Aotearoa Charitable Trust, a private training establishment.

“Donna’s considerable governance experience gained from serving on community, sports and Māori performing arts boards will add depth and useful perspective to the board” Mr Foss says.

Broadcasting Minister Craig Foss met with Chinese officials negotiating the China-NZ television co-production agreement in China today.

Negotiations began in 2010, when New Zealand and China signed a film-only co-production agreement. Mr Foss met with Vice Minister Nie Chen Xi in Beijing to discuss the benefits of television production collaboration between the two countries.

“New Zealand is now on track to become the first country to have signed a television co-production agreement with China,” says Mr Foss.

Broadcasting Minister Craig Foss will visit Beijing next week to progress a China-NZ television co-production agreement.

Mr Foss will be hosted by Minister of the State General Administration for Press, Publication, Radio and Television, Mr Cai Fuchao to discuss the television co-production agreement under negotiation.

“I look forward to meeting with my Chinese counterparts and exploring the opportunities available to both NZ and China in the television co-production space.

New Zealand television is now a digital-only zone after the analogue signal was switched off by Broadcasting Minister Craig Foss.

Mr Foss switched off the Waiatarua TV Tower analogue transmitter at 2am this morning, marking the end of a three year campaign to ensure New Zealand households were ready for the digital transition.

“This is a significant milestone in the history of New Zealand television. Scheduled analogue services have been operating since the 1960s, when New Zealanders had access to just one channel for a few hours each night.

Broadcasting Minister Craig Foss has acknowledged the work of NZ On Air and the Media Access Charitable Trust as New Zealand’s captioning service moves out of TVNZ after 25 years.

New Zealand’s captioning service, previously part of TVNZ, is now a stand-alone service known as Able, run by the Media Access Trust and funded by NZ On Air.

“I would like to congratulate all involved in a smooth transition and continued commitment to make Kiwi content accessible to as many New Zealanders as possible,” says Mr Foss.

Broadcasting Minister Craig Foss says Auckland residents need to be prepared as analogue television will be switched off this weekend.

Auckland and the upper North Island will be the final region to make the switch to digital television at 2am Sunday 1 December.

“Latest research shows that while most people have taken steps to ensure they are ready, there could be up to 49,000 households left without a working television on Sunday,” says Mr Foss.

Broadcasting Minister Craig Foss today announced that he has reappointed Jane Taylor to the Radio New Zealand board (RNZ) and Alison Gerry, to the Television New Zealand board (TVNZ).

“As highly skilled and experienced directors, Jane Taylor and Alison Gerry each make a valued contribution to RNZ and TVNZ and I am delighted that the boards will continue to benefit from their expertise for a further term,” says Mr Foss.

Broadcasting Minister Craig Foss has welcomed the launch of Radio New Zealand’s new online youth service – “The Wireless”

The project is aimed at providing an online forum for content relevant to 18-30 year olds, while promoting emerging New Zealand talent.

“I would like to congratulate Radio New Zealand for continuing to expand its online presence. The way we receive our content is changing as traditional broadcast methods are challenged.

Broadcasting Minister Craig Foss says Auckland and Upper North Island residents need to check they are ready for ‘going digital’.

After the Lower North Island’s successful switchover last weekend, the Upper North Island will be the final region to make the switch to digital television on 1 December 2013.

Broadcasting Minister Craig Foss says Lower North Island residents have a few days left to ensure they can keep watching television.

“While nine out of ten households are already watching digital TV, I urge everyone to make sure they’re ready before Sunday 29 September,” says Mr Foss.

Television in the Hawke’s Bay and the West Coast went digital in September 2012. The rest of the South Island went digital on 28 April, 2013.

Broadcasting Minister Craig Foss says the fact that musical online series The Factory has had over 250,000 views shows that NZ On Air’s Digital Media Fund allocation is being directed in the right place.

The Factory is an innovative online series, which started with auditions in markets, shopping centres, community halls and festivals around South Auckland to find new talent, songs and stories for the series.

Justice Minister Judith Collins and Broadcasting Minister Craig Foss have today announced the Government’s response to the Law Commission’s report on regulation of news media.

The report, The News Media Meets “New Media”: Rights, Responsibilities and Regulation in the Digital Age, considered how unregulated news media could be regulated and/or if our current regulatory bodies should be extended to cover media such as blogs.

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.

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.

Broadcasting Minister Craig Foss has welcomed research showing that at least 91 per cent of homes in the North Island have now made the switch to digital television.

The latest research shows that 91 per cent of homes in the Lower North Island and 92 per cent of homes in the Upper North Island have gone digital.  

NZ on Screen, a website funded by NZ On Air has had more than 1 million visits in the last year, a thirty per cent increase on 2012, Broadcasting Minister Craig Foss announced today.

“More and more Kiwis are choosing to watch New Zealand television and film, and to listen to Kiwi music online. More than 1 million visits to the NZ on Screen website shows that New Zealanders watch and listen to Kiwi content on a range of platforms. These websites increase the availability of content,” says Mr Foss.

Broadcasting Minister, Craig Foss and Pacific Island Affairs Minister Hekia Parata are today announcing the appointments of Dr Lesieli MacIntyre and Taualeo’o Stephen Stehlin to the board of the National Pacific Radio Trust (NPRT).

Dr MacIntyre was a senior lecturer in Pasifika education at the Massey University College of Education. She has researched and written extensively on Pasifika education issues and is currently a senior adviser to Pacific Island students at the University.