‘Artistic haven’ idea for study

Press, 16 August 1988, Page 18

‘Artistic haven’ idea for study

PA Wellington The Trade Development Board will study how to make New Zealand an international artistic haven, says the Minister of Overseas Trade and Marketing, Mr Moore.

In Britain, arts-related commercial activity had an annual turnover of $25.8 billion. The arts in Britain provided about 500,000 jobs and accounted for 27 per cent of the country’s tourist earnings.

Too often New Zealand’s top musicians and artists became recognised at home only after they had become famous overseas and contributed to foreign treasuries, Mr Moore said.

One year, Split Enz and other New Zealand groups earned more than $5 million for Australia. Mr Moore said the Trade Development Board — formed from the merger of Tradecom and the Market Development Board — would study how to make New Zealand an attractive base for international recording, cinema and television productions.

The board would also look at the pros and cons of introducing a “Made in New Zealand” quota for local recordings on the airwaves and television. “We must work harder to build on our own culture and music, literature and the arts,” he said. “Otherwise we will be culturally swamped.”

Mr Moore sensed a yearning among pakeha New Zealanders to cement their own identity as New Zealanders, as the Maori pride and culture correctly gained momentum.