Budget 2023: Te Matatini and gaming industry win, artists left in dust
The gaming industry, Te Matatini and innovators have won big in this year’s Budget, but the wider arts and cultural sector continues to be underinvested in despite its booming value and growth, an expert says.
New funding announced in Thursday’s Budget included $160 million over the next four years to introduce a tax rebate for the gaming sector – a move that’s been celebrated by the industry, which had been calling for a rebate to compete with Australia, which offers its own highly competitive rebate.
A 20% tax rebate would be able to be claimed on spend incurred by game development businesses which meet the threshold of $250,000 in spend per year. Up to $3m could be claimed per individual studio per year.
Joe Slater, general manager of startups at Creative HQ, said it was nice the Government had identified gaming as a growing and valuable sector. “Helping them do more and go bigger is great,” Slater said.
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The Government also set aside $34m for Te Matatini over the next two years to stimulate the growth of kapa haka. The funding would expand the scope and role of Te Matatini by embedding a rohe-based kapa haka network that would administer funding.
Carl Ross, chief executive of Te Matatini, said the team was “absolutely stoked” and he congratulated the Government on acknowledging the significance of kapa haka to New Zealand society.
The investment would contribute towards Te Matatini’s new vision. It would move Te Matatini beyond a festival and support a range of kapa haka activities in communities. It would also provide the organisation
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