Arts Minister Carmel Sepuloni says job losses in the arts, culture and heritage areas have been far less than anticipated because of the $374 million arts recovery package.
The package was aimed at supporing artists and performers who couldnt’ practice during the pandemic, but it also took on a wider role of funding heritage projects.
Ms Sepuloni says it was embraced by groups wanting to protect and share matauranga Maori, whether through digitising or archiving material held by marae and hapu, or workshopping and sharing cultural practices.
She says the package hasn’t just been about survival but a means of investing in the right place.
Story by Peter Verschaffelt
