Green Party - Advocate for the Arts

The Green Party’s artistic vision of the future – where artists and the arts are recognised and supported for the contribution they make to New Zealand – will be unveiled in the Party’s arts, cultural and heritage policy launch at Auckland’s Imperial Hotel tonight.

Green Party Arts Spokesperson Metiria Turei says the arts play an important role in New Zealand’s economic as well as cultural development so it’s vital to support, enhance and develop the sector.

“Our arts culture is an integral aspect of our national identity. Investing in the arts is a win-win situation on both social and economic grounds,” Mrs Turei says.

She is excited by the strong Maori aspect of the policy, support for the promotion of Maori art, language and culture, and mechanisms for supporting artists in their careers.

The Green Party advocates a range of measures to enhance New Zealand’s arts, cultural and heritage sectors, including:

Better protection for historically and culturally significant places and buildings
Valuing and protecting the unique heritage of Maori arts
Increasing support for the arts sector to ensure production of quality music, films and arts programmes
Extending economic incentives for film production to locally written and produced films
Establishing an arts and cultural promotion unit within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Making donations to arts organisations tax deductible
Ensuring copyright and digital rights of artworks are retained by the artist
Establishing a national fund for earthquake strengthening of heritage buildings

Media are invited to attend tonight’s 5pm launch event at the Imperial Hotel, 95-99 Customs Street West, Viaduct Basin, Auckland. Green Party MPs Metiria Turei and Sue Kedgley, and Green Party candidate/veteran actor Rawiri Paratene, will speak at the launch.

* The arts, culture and heritage policy is available at weblink: http://www.greens.org.nz/policy/summary/arts