Creative NZ: Seriously Maori Strategy
SERIOUSLY MAORI STRATEGY
The Seriously Maori strategy
has evolved from extensive consultation with Maori, spanning
several years on issues relating to Maori arts. In the first
year of the three-year Seriously Maori strategy, funding
will be $1.7 million. The strategy will address three
pressing issues:
protection: the need to develop a process within the tourism and economic environment that recognises the status and value of authentic Maori artworks, and to assist in the protection of the intellectual and cultural property rights of Maori artists.
development: the need to help iwi develop and implement arts management plans to preserve and develop their heritage arts and, in so doing, strengthen their arts infrastructures so that their control, development and delivery of Maori arts is more wide-ranging and effective.
promotion: the need to profile Maori arts and culture nationwide to raise awareness and understanding among New Zealanders of the unique role and value of Maori arts to the nation.
There are three parts to the strategy:
1. BRANDING MAORI ARTS
With the burgeoning interest in Maori arts nationally and internationally, and in response to Maori concerns to protect their intellectual and cultural property rights, it is timely to develop a brand for Maori arts – akin to the Wool Mark – denoting authenticity and quality.
Developing a brand for Maori arts will:
assist in the protection of the
intellectual and cultural property rights of Maori
artists
protect the integrity of Maori
culture
create a premium for authentic Maori
artworks
provide direct economic benefits for
the artists who are registered to use the brand through
increased consumer demand for branded products
add value to the promotion of the nation’s cultural tourism
strategy.
2. IWI ARTS MANAGEMENT PLANS
Consultation with the Maori arts community has identified a need to assist iwi and Maori authorities in the area of arts planning and management.
Through these plans, iwi and Maori authorities will be assisted to:
develop arts on
marae
take advantage of revenue-earning and
business opportunities by strengthening their arts
infrastructures
deal more effectively with local
and central government on resource management
issues
upskill their members in planning,
management and development, thereby providing them with
employment opportunities
use their resources
more strategically and effectively
retain their
chieftainship over their taonga by being self-determining
and self-managing as to how and when they develop their
heritage arts
become iwi arts providers.
3. PROFILING MAORI ARTS NATIONWIDE
Maori arts and culture are unique in the world and central to New Zealand’s identity as a nation. It is timely to set up a nationwide campaign to profile Maori arts and culture so that all New Zealanders gain increased awareness, understanding and appreciation of the nation’s indigenous foundation. A nationwide media campaign profiling Maori arts will be initiated in the second year and will include some of the benefits expected from the Maori brand and iwi arts management plans.
ENDS