The arts are inseparable from the legacy of te reo Māori, a medium through which the reo has always been expressed, celebrated and normalised through generations.

Creative New Zealand is one of the most significant institutions within the Aotearoa arts scene. They encourage, promote and support the arts in Aotearoa for the benefit of all New Zealanders through funding, capability building, an international programme and advocacy.

Creative New Zealand was first set up in 1963 and became the crown entity we know as Creative New Zealand in 1994. The organisation is governed by the Arts Council of New Zealand Toi Aotearoa, which includes a Komiti Māori. The Māori Arts strategy 2019-2024 outlines the following goal:

Ngā toi Māori is visible everywhere and highly valued, as part of New Zealand’s distinct identity, which is admired globally.

Their support for te reo Māori is woven into a wider vision for the uplifting and support of mātauranga Māori within the arts. Some examples of projects they have supported towards their strategic vision include:

• A first-of-its-kind initiative to train experienced navigators as tohunga (spiritual leaders). Led by tohunga Hoturoa Barclay Kerr. 
• An initiative to strengthen tārai waka traditions through three key programmes: Tangata Uta, Tangata Tai, and Ratakaha ki Uta. Led by Hemi Eruera and his team. 
• Ongoing support for the revival of taonga pūoro through collaboration with the Haumanu Collective. 
• Continued support of the eight iwi of Taranaki, through six Taranaki ngā toi Māori mātanga, to develop and deliver phase two of the Taku Poi He Manu, Taku Ringa He Manu Mātauranga Māori Revitalisation Programme. 
• Legacy sponsorship and collaboration with Te Taura Whiri i Te Reo Māori. 
• Continued legacy partnership with Te Matatini to celebrate kapa haka as a driver of wellbeing for Māori and their communities.

As expressed by Creative New Zealand on their website

Our Māori arts strategy sets out how we will join with others and effect change ourselves, building a stronger sector to advance and increase public engagement with the broad range of ngā toi Māori, both customary and contemporary. 

Te Taura Whiri was fortunate to have the support of Creative New Zealand as a sponsor for the Arts category at Ngā Tohu Reo Māori 2024. Creative New Zealand has touched the lives of all of our reo champions in the awards. They announced Arataua Media as the 2024 recipient of the award.

Arataua Media, while working primarily as a media company, has made tremendous contributions to the creative landscape of te reo Māori in Aotearoa. Notably through their reo Māori resources and the incredible musical offerings of Te Nūtube. 

A huge mihi to Creative New Zealand, for all of their work as champions for te reo, through the championing of toi Māori!