Creative People's Centre

Creative NZ to axe current structure in favour of one board.

Creative New Zealand’s four governing bodies will be replaced by a single board, under a proposal announced by Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Christopher Finlayson.

One board responsible for policy, strategy and funding allocation would replace the Arts Council, the Arts Board, Te Waka Toi and the Pacific Arts Committee.

Mr Finlayson said a streamlined unitary board requires fewer resources, and frees staff to focus on what is important – artists, arts organisations and arts development.

The number of members would be reduced from 28 to 13, including a minimum of four members with knowledge of Maori arts and at least two with knowledge of Pacific arts.

“The new arrangement guarantees that issues involving Maori and Pacific arts are represented at the top table for decision-making, which under the current cumbersome structure is not the case,” Mr Finlayson said.

“Along with the arts sector, which has voiced concerns for years about Creative New Zealand’s governance structure, I am looking forward to the improvements in service, focus and efficiency these changes will allow,” Mr Finlayson said.

Chair of the Arts Council of New Zealand Alastair Carruthers welcomed the new governance structure.

Mr Carruthers said the proposed board would offer more streamlined decision-making because there would be a single group setting strategy, allocating budget and making investment decisions.

“What is proposed will reduce complexity, provide clearer accountability to the sector, and allow staff to focus on supporting artists and arts organisations, rather than servicing a cumbersome and outdated structure.”

He also welcomed the proposal to include four Maori and two Pacific representatives to the 13-member board.

The Ministry for Culture and Heritage, working with Creative New Zealand, Te Puni Kokiri and the Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs, carried out the review, as well as targeted consultation with the arts sector.

Mr Finlayson said the changes will result in direct cost savings of approximately $200,000 per annum.

The review of Creative New Zealand’s governing legislation was promised in the National Party’s arts culture and heritage policy in the 2008 election, which was informed partly by Mr Finlayson’s first hand experience as Chair of the Arts Board from 1998 to 2001.

Mr Finlayson said he hoped legislation would be introduced this year to enact the changes.