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Aotearoa Touring Programme returns this September

Story Published Friday 5 August 2022

Hon Carmel Sepuloni, Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage, announced at the Pacific Music awards last night that the Government will invest to extend the Aotearoa Touring Programme until June 2023.


One of the initiatives in the Government’s New Zealand Music Recovery Fund, the Aotearoa Touring Programme is part of the Manatū Taonga Ministry of Culture & Heritage led Arts & Culture COVID Recovery Programme, which is focused on the recovery, regeneration and revitalisation of the cultural sector. The Programme initially concluded in June 2022.

The Aotearoa Touring Programme supports the reinvigoration of the live music sector to assist in the recovery from the effects of COVID-19 in the domestic touring market. The Programme invests in national touring costs, to enable more New Zealand artists to grow sustainable careers and increase the access to live music for local audiences.

The Programme is a matched investment scheme, where artists (or their representatives) can apply for 50% of eligible costs for a New Zealand tour.

Minister Sepuloni said “Performers, crew and the music industry told us clearly that the Aotearoa Touring Programme has been incredibly successful in supporting domestic talent to tour the country. Further support is needed to help restore vitality to our music scene and we’re taking action by directly responding to that need.

“Extending the Aotearoa Touring Programme assists the ongoing recovery of domestic music touring and supports a thriving hospitality sector. The Programme has a focus on tours that reach beyond the main cities into the regions, so that all New Zealanders can experience the magic of live performance.”

The full statement from Minister Sepuloni can be found here.

Through the Aotearoa Touring Programme, the Music Commission will continue to support both emerging and established artists to undertake tours of New Zealand, with a focus on projects which will take original, live local music to regions and audiences across Aotearoa.

Music Commission Chief Executive Cath Andersen said “Live music is a crucial part of the livelihood for many artists in Aotearoa and is the biggest employer for music workers nationally. The pandemic has been incredibly challenging for people who rely on live performance for their income, and we are very grateful that the Aotearoa Touring Programme can continue to support the ongoing recovery across the live music sector and provide New Zealanders the opportunity to see more amazing live music all around the country.”

More information about the Music Commission’s Aotearoa Touring Programme is available here. Details of application dates will be published on the Music Commission website in late August, and updated eligibility criteria will be available in early September.

For any other queries, please contact the Music Commission via: [email protected]