New Zealand creativity has global support

20 August 2012

New Zealand creativity has global support

It’s not just New Zealanders that are supporting New Zealand creative projects. Over 15% of pledges on New Zealand’s crowdfunding website, PledgeMe.co.nz, come from overseas supporters.

Unsurprisingly, the main overseas contingent pledging come from just over the ditch. But it’s not just Australians supporting, pledges are coming in from places as far flung as Lithuania, Greece and Brunei.

“This isn’t unexpected,” says PledgeMe co-founder Anna Guenther. “The latest statistics from KEA shows that over 700,000 kiwis live overseas, and the networks that New Zealanders make through their travels are pretty impressive. Since crowdfunding is all about tapping into your networks, it makes sense.”

PledgeMe has recently reached new heights, with over $400,000 pledged to over 190 projects. The website is New Zealand's oldest crowdfunding platform, helping creatives tap into their networks to turn project ideas into reality.

“I was amazed about how successful we were and surprised by people's generosity.” says Hannah Banks, a recently successful crowdfunder. Support for her project, Holding On, included a few british pledgers, and now they’ll be able to put their play on at Bats Theatre in Wellington.

“A big, supportive network is vital” says Emma Heke, Nelson director and crowdfunder of Our Green Roadie. “The crowdfunding experience was thrilling and humbling and a little scary and totally worth doing!” Her crowd came from as far away as Indonesia. One of her Australian supporters commented on how great it was to be able to support her friends back home in New Zealand.

ENDS

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