Media Statement
For immediate release
Monday, 12 September, 2005

UF arts, culture and heritage policy

United Future arts and culture spokesman Marc Alexander today announced the following policy.

United Future will:

- Promote an environment where the cultural identities of a diverse people are recognised and actively promoted.

- Recognise the special place of Maori culture in New Zealand society.

- Review the funding of Creative New Zealand with a view to increasing accountability, and require ‘simple English’ explanations of all public monies allocated for cultural purposes.

- Require Creative NZ to “bring art to the people” through increased community involvement.

- Strengthen community participation at all levels in the Historic Places Trust and provide adequate resourcing for its work.

- Encourage government and community involvement in the preservation of historic places.

- Address the funding formula of the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra to reduce the need for additional funding injections, and balance with funding of regional orchestras.

- Support the work of the New Zealand Film Commission.

- Encourage all television and radio channels to raise the profile of local content in programming and productions through NZ On Air.

- Acknowledge the contribution of artistic and cultural activities to the economy.

“New Zealand has come an awful long way in recent years in terms of establishing its own cultural and artistic identity, and I firmly believe the policies being pushed by United Future will consolidate that growth and foster and environment for further developing our cultural and artistic footprint,” Mr Alexander said.

ENDS

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