Our vision is that the arts and ngā toi Māori are flourishing: created by a thriving arts community, enriching lives here and around the world.
Who we are
Creative New Zealand is the national arts development agency of Aotearoa New Zealand. We operate under the Arts Council of New Zealand Toi Aotearoa Act 2014.
We are funded by the New Zealand Government through the:
Our purpose
Our purpose is to encourage, promote and support the arts in New Zealand for the benefit of all New Zealanders.
Guiding principles
Under our Act, we must recognise
- the cultural diversity of the people of New Zealand
- the role in the arts of Māori as tangata whenua
- the arts of the Pacific Island peoples of New Zealand.
We must also recognise and uphold the principles of participation, access, excellence and innovation, professionalism and advocacy.
Our long-term goals
To achieve our vision, we’ve identified five long-term goals that set out the changes we want to see:
- Empowered communities, making decisions on the arts and ngā toi Māori closest to them.
- Thriving artists, ringatoi and practitioners, with viable creative careers, supported by a strong arts infrastructure.
- He mana toi, he mana tangata, thriving and highly visible ngā toi Māori, valued in Aotearoa and around the world.
- Inspired New Zealanders, embracing our arts and ngā toi Māori every day.
- A valued arts development agency, leading with impact and delivering for Aotearoa New Zealand.
Our values
Our values reflect how we work with each other, the arts community and beyond.
- Āwhinatia, Strengthen and support
We’re inclusive and supportive, we’re responsible and accountable for the things we do, and we act with integrity. - Honotia, Connect and grow
We foster a culture of collaboration and respect, building valued connections with each other and those we work with. - Māiatia, Have courage and confidence
We stand tall, strive for excellence and embrace the future with optimism.
Our strategic documents
Our strategic intentions are described in our Statement of Intent 2025–2030. Learn more about our plans for each year, including our priorities and programmes, in our Statement of Performance Expectations 2025/26.
Share this
