Creative New Zealand and the Ministry for Pacific Peoples sign first MoU to support Pacific language storytelling

By Creative NZ | Posted: Tuesday Aug 26, 2025

Tala: Sharing Pacific Stories – a new initiative supporting Pacific creatives to write and publish in Pacific languages.

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This is the first formal agreement between the two agencies and celebrates a shared commitment to revitalising and celebrating Pacific languages through the arts. The initiative aligns with Creative New Zealand’s Pacific Arts Strategy 2023-2028 and supports the goals of the Ministry’s Pacific Languages Strategy 2022-2032, with a focus on languages identified for urgent revitalisation, including te gagana Tokelau (Tokelauan), vagahau Niue, (Niuean) and te reo Māori Kūki ‘Airani (Cook Islands Māori).

The two agencies have contributed a total of $100,000 to Tala: Sharing Pacific Stories. Creative New Zealand will lead the delivery of the initiative, which offers a contestable funding round from September 2025 for Pacific creatives to either translate existing works or create new publications in Pacific languages.

Gretchen Le Roche, Creative New Zealand CE, believes the partnership will have positive outcomes for Pacific artists, both commercially and creatively.

“We’re excited to partner with the Ministry for Pacific Peoples through this initiative, driving progress towards our shared strategic outcomes,” says Gretchen.

“We have talented, world-class Pacific artists who are passionate about telling stories in their languages. This not only strengthens the transmission of cultural knowledge but also creates economic opportunities for them in the future.”

Gerardine Clifford-Lidstone, Secretary Pacific Peoples, welcomes the initiative as an opportunity to further support Pacific talent and communities.

“Pacific creatives are thriving in the arts sector, and this new initiative will help ensure their stories are told in the languages of their ancestors.”

 “This partnership with Creative New Zealand reflects on our shared vision for Pacific languages. By investing in Pacific language literature, this initiative not only supports the creative sector but also contributes to the maintenance and revitalisation of Pacific languages.” says Gerardine.

Tala: Sharing Pacific Stories aligns with Pacific Arts Strategy 2023-2028 priorities of ‘ensuring Pacific arts include our whole village’, ‘growing and deepening strategic partnerships and collaborations’ and ‘building resilience and sustainability’.

Kawika Aipa, Manager Pacific Arts, Enterprise co-led the development of the MoU and initiative for Creative New Zealand, alongside kaimahi from the Ministry for Pacific Peoples.

“Strategic partnerships and collaborations are a long-term priority, and it’s exciting to have developed a joint initiative that has multiple agencies sharing great ideas and resources to deliver outcomes for our communities and the wider public,” says Kawika. 

“We want to thank our friends at the Ministry for working together to get this first MoU signed and I can’t wait to work with our talented Pacific creatives to get some great stories published.”

Tala: Sharing Pacific Stories builds on the legacy of Pacific storytelling where language is a powerful vessel of identity, connection, and cultural continuity. It follows other literature-focused initiatives such as the Tala series of Pasifika plays, which brought celebrated works by Pacific playwrights to new audiences through publication and performance.