Government of Niue and Creative New Zealand announce a three-year MoU
By Creative NZ | Posted: Friday Mar 06, 2026
Apply for the 2026 Creative New Zealand Niue Artist Residency in Alofi. Applications close: Friday 13 March 5pm.
The Government of Niue and Creative New Zealand are thrilled to announce a three-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to deepen strategic relationships and collaborations aligned with the Pacific Arts Strategy. Niue is a realm country of New Zealand with deep historical, cultural, and people-to-people connections.
The MoU follows a successful co-designed pilot Pacific artist residency in Alofi, Niue, in 2025 which saw award winning visual artist Katrina Iosia from New Zealand develop new artworks for exhibition and sharing her creative practice with students, young people, and local community on the island.
The MoU has been supported by the Prime Minister of Niue and Cabinet. Developing the multi-year MoU has been led by Hon Minister Sonya Talagi with Creative New Zealand’s Pacific Arts Group. The agreement sees the annual Creative New Zealand Niue Artist Residency in Alofi continuing for a further three years, with an annual review and debrief.
“We are excited about our multi-year MoU with Creative New Zealand to ensure mutual arts and cultural goals and mutual benefits between Niue and New Zealand,” says the Hon. Minister Sonya Talagi.
‘The partnership includes ongoing dialogue with Creative New Zealand to explore other future opportunities for collaborations in the creative space, which will be wonderful for our children, young people, and future generations.’
The MoU aligns with the ‘Moana’ focus area of the Pacific Arts Strategy and the priority to ‘Grow and deepen strategic partnerships and collaborations,’ in the Pacific Islands, worldwide and in New Zealand.
Jannita Pilisi, member of Creative New Zealand’s governing Arts Council, sees the multi-year formal agreement for collaboration as an important step in acknowledging the rich history and opportunities with the Pacific Islands.
“The more we can invest and support people to people connections, skills development and knowledge-sharing – the more our creative and cultural communities can thrive, including the sharing of innovative ideas and technologies which will build resilience and sustainability and in the long term, socio-economic benefits with our partner countries,” she says.
“Fakaue lahi mahaki atu - we sincerely thank and honour the Government of Niue and Hon Minister Sonya Talagi and her team for their shared vision, ofania, and commitment to the importance of tau aga fakamotu, creativity and the arts in all our lives and for both our nations.”
“I also look forward to celebrating the Hologa Niue Cultural Festival 2026 with Minister Sonya and other Niue government representatives in Auckland, a significant major event that has been proudly supported by Creative New Zealand.”
Apply for the 2026 Creative New Zealand Niue Artist Residency in Alofi