2.July 2021 2.11 SIC ppr PIJF Projects Local.pdf

AGENDA ITEM 2.11
PUBLIC INTEREST JOURNALISM FUND: PROJECTS (LOCAL/REGIONAL)
FUNDING DECISIONS
RECOMMENDATION
That the Staff Investment Committee approves funding up to:
● $189,522 to Crux for Deep South
● $166,600 to Vanishing Point Studio for Fault Lines
● $214,360 to Stuff for Forever A Foreigner
● $460,000 to Te Reo Irirangi O Te Hiku O Te Ika for Haukāinga
● $840,000 to Very Nice Productions for Local Focus,
● $440,000 to NZME for Rotorua Weekender -  Te  Wāhanga  Reo  Rua,
● $7,291 to Salient Magazine for Te Ao Mārama
● $498,370 to Awa FM for Te Awa,
● $675,000 to Al ied Press for The South Today,
● $97,000 to Radio Bay of Plenty Limited for Whakatupuria Te Moana A Toi
and declines funding of:
● see Annex A for a list of shortlisted proposals recommended for decline.
10 shortlisted applications recommended for total funding of $3,588,143
shortlisted application recommended decline seeking total funding of
BACKGROUND
1.
In January 2021 Cabinet agreed to draw down $55 million over the next three years (2021 - 2023) from the
tagged contingency set aside by Cabinet for broadcasting initiatives. This funding will be administered by NZ
On Air to support the production of public interest journalism including Māori and Iwi journalism that is
relevant to and valued by New Zealanders.
under the Official Information Act
2.
General Guidelines for the PIJF were published in April 2021. The principles set out in the Cabinet paper have
informed the design of the Public Interest Journalism Fund (PIJF). NZ On Air collaborated with Te Māngai
Pāho on the design and delivery of the fund.
3.
The PIJF is structured to support journalistic capability across three funding pillars: Projects, Roles and
Industry Development.
ROUND OVERVIEW
Released
4.
This first round of the PIJF sought applications to the Projects and Industry Development pil ars of the fund.
Information for this May/July 2021 funding round outlined the assessment criteria and funding priorities to
applicants.
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5.
Applicants were first asked to submit five-page proposals by 13 May, which were individually assessed by
panellists. A hui was then held on 21 May to shortlist proposals. Shortlisted applicants then submitted full
proposals by 3 June. Following further individual assessment, hui were held on 9-10 June to decide on the
funding recommendations outlined in this paper.
6.
NZ On Air earmarked $9.8m to this first funding round, and received 122 first-stage applications collectively
seeking over $50m.
Round Overview - PIJF: Projects (Local/Regional)
7.
The assessment panel for PIJF: Local/Regional applications included:
a.

b.


c.

d.

e.  Raewyn Rasch (Ngāi Tahu) - NZ On Air Head of Journalism. Former General Manager Māori and
Pacific programmes at TVNZ, executive producer of Seven Sharp, producer of Fair Go and Marae
Investigates, TV and radio journalist
f.  Anna Currie - NZ On Air Funding Advisor
8.
The Projects pillar of the PIJF is for tightly defined projects delivered to a deadline, similar to those funded
via the NZ Media Fund Factual stream. To this May/July 2021 round NZ On Air sought applications across two
Project categories: 1) National audiences and 2) Local/Regional.
9.
This SIC paper assesses PIJF: Local/Regional Project applications.
10.  Local/Regional Projects are those with a targeted focus on a specific local or regional audience, and funding
levels are intended to be commensurate to platform/publication and audience size.
11.  This funding category sought journalism specific to local and regional communities that is currently not being
fulfilled, are substantially unfulfilled or at imminent risk. Applicants were expected to provide a strong case
under the Official Information Act
for how their project addresses ‘at-risk or missing’ public interest journalism.
12.  Other specific assessment criteria for Local/Regional Project proposals were content distribution
agreements, sharing resources or co-producing content that furthered the interests of the industry and
audience along with consideration of how the project might be sustainable or contribute to sustainable
outcomes.
13.  In determining funding recommendations, alongside the individual merits of each application, the panel also
considered how it met the goals and definition of PIJ, showed a commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi,
supported Māori and Iwi journalism, and targeted content areas and communities (local, regional, national)
Released
that are currently not being fulfilled in particular: Pacific, women, youth, children, persons with disabilities,
ethnic communities (with a focus on Pan-Asian communities).
14.  Projects currently funded through NZ On Air’s Regional Media fund were asked to submit to this round and 3
such projects were selected for the shortlist.
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15.

16.  One application,
was declined for assessment because it did not meet NZ On Air’s
standard threshold for assessment. This left  Local/Regional Project applications to be assessed by the
panel.
17.  The panel shortlisted  Local/Regional Projects. Following assessment of these full proposals, 10 are
recommended for funding approval. Individual assessments of the 10 funding recommendations are
included below.

GENERAL ASSESSMENT & STAFF OPINION
Deep South

Crux

$189,522
Key Personnel
Title/s
Relevant Past Work

Synopsis
18.  A 5 x 7’ investigative video series for the Crux website looking at the complex issues in the Deep South that
involve a clash between pioneer-based values and recent residents in the region.
General Assessment
19.  Deep South  investigates  difficult social/economic issues unique to the lower half of the South Island, Te
Waipounamu.
20.

21.  Deep South will involve the extensive use of a specialist news/current affairs researcher to work with the three
Crux journalist/producers prior to each shoot getting underway and

22.  The proposal outlines nine  potential topics for investigation including:

under the Official Information Act

23.  The proposal provides a detailed sample script and treatment for a story, but stories will not be confirmed
until the research has been carried out.
Staff Opinion
Released
24.  In response to staff feedback from the initial proposal, Crux has gone to great lengths to demonstrate Deep
South would be an investigative series providing strong PIJF.
25.  The inclusion of external co-producers
and
has strengthened the editorial team.
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26.  There should be some attempt to bring in a Māori journalist to work on the Ngāi Tahu story and Crux have
indicated they are keen to do that.
27.  There is mention that the content would be shared with

28.  Assessors were generally in favour of this proposal with one stating,  “Fine  combination  of  investigative
journalism and film making.”
29.  The cost of
per episode is on the high side but staff notes that investigative journalism is expensive to
produce and felt the costs were reasonable on that basis.
30.  Staff expect the proposal will provide quality video journalism, not often available to Southern audiences.
Funding is recommended.
Fault Lines

Vanishing Point Studio

$166,600
Key Personnel
Title/s
Relevant Past Work

Synopsis
31.  A cross-platform piece of explanatory journalism looking at the science behind, and the communities at risk
of, the rupture of the Alpine Fault.
General Assessment
32.  This proposal is for an innovative cross-platform collaboration to provide communities with  a detailed
investigation into the impending Alpine Fault rupture and how it will affect communities living along it.
33.  Content produced wil  include a North & South cover story of up to 8,000 words, and an innovative digital
home for the story that enhances the magazine text with multimedia/interactive/data elements in order to
reach a broader audience.
34.  It will also include shorter news/feature articles for the  Westport News, the  Greymouth Star,  Hokitika
Guardian, Nelson Weekly and Marlborough Weekly.
35.  The applicants will partner with Tahu FM on audio and digital packages for its radio and online platforms to
ensure reach to Māori audiences.
36.  There would also be approximately 10 x news articles of 400 – 600 words that would be available along with
under the Official Information Act
photography and the digital elements if required.
37.  There would be approximately 5 x 3’ videos that would be shared across all the publications’ digital and social
channels - al  pointing towards the print publication and the multimedia package.
38.  The proposal is to use experienced national reporters and producers, paired with almost every regional news
outlet from Haast on the West Coast, where the Alpine Fault begins, up the coast and around to Marlborough
where it ends.
39.  The project aims to work with the scientists researching the fault line to explain what they know about how
the fault might rupture and what effects there would be.
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40.  In the reporting process the Fault Lines team will embed with each partnering news organisation to provide
local elements of the story.
41.  The proposal outlines in detail the areas the investigation will cover including community preparedness, Māori
mātauranga and engagement.
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Staff Opinion
42.  This is a solid example of PIJF that will bring together the strands of a nationally significant story while
delivering strong information to local communities most affected.
43.  The applicants responded to staff feedback at the shortlisting phase to include Māori perspectives in the
proposal and demonstrated engagement with a letter of support from a local rūnanga.
44.  Assessors were unanimously in favour of funding with one commenting “Technically high quality and visually
effective, with coherent reporting and convincing authorities interviewed. The Climate Change video to which
the application linked showed how wel  this company could do in explaining the Alpine Fault threat.” Funding
is recommended.
Forever A Foreigner

Stuff

$214,360
Key Personnel
Title/s
Relevant Past Work

Synopsis
45.  Forever A Foreigner will investigate what it was really like for New Zealand’s first Asian immigrants and their
descendants. This project would produce long-form feature articles with five distinct stories and five videos,
which can be combined to a 1 x 25’ documentary for PlayStuff and Māori Television.
General Assessment
46.  This proposal seeks to provide an in-depth look at the NZ Chinese community from the first arrivals in the
1840s to new migrants today  and the issues they face living in New Zealand.  It will seek  to address
misconceptions and misunderstandings around the Chinese community and its history here.
47.  The series is split into five episodes:

The proposal provides summaries of each of these topics.
48.  The proposal is for a variety of content including video, interactive digital, print and feature stories. The video
content would build into a documentary which will be played on Māori Television and PlayStuff.
under the Official Information Act
49.  The content will appear on Stuff’s website in a bespoke interactive landing page and will be further promoted
in articles published in Stuff’s print publications (i.e. The Nelson Mail, The Sunday Star Times, Sunday Magazine
etc.) The video wil  be offered to Māori Television as on demand online content.
50.  The project aims to enhance understanding of diverse cultures and make people explore their own
prejudice, enhancing acceptance within wider society.
51.  This project will be based from the Stuff Nelson office providing a regional newsroom with the opportunity
to take on a large project they would otherwise not have the resource to be able to do.
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52.  The project treatment will be similar to this series run by Stuff:
https://interactives.stuff.co.nz/2019/12/product-of-australia/
Staff Opinion
53.  This is the only proposal in this round to target the underserved Chinese community in New Zealand.
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54.

55.  While exact content outcomes are not clear, it is expected the budget would be spread across 5 x 5’ videos, 5
interactive digital stories and 5 print features

56.

Staff will work with
Stuff prior to contracting to ensure that the scope and scale is fit for purpose.
57.  Assessors were unanimously in favour of funding this project with one commenting, “Well outlined, socially
significant, could not be done without the additional funding … meets al  PIJ criteria.” Funding is
recommended

Haukāinga

Te Reo Irirangi O Te Hiku O Te Ika

$460,000
Key Personnel
Title/s
Relevant Past Work

Synopsis
58.  Haukāinga is a regional public interest journalism initiative that allows Northlanders to share their stories and
be informed about the current events and issues that are important to them.
General Assessment
59.  Since 2013, Haukāinga has been funded as a Regional Media project by NZ On Air.

60.  This project will deliver 70 x short-form news videos, 35 x bonus content videos, 30 x livestream events, 4 x
livestream broadcasts and 64 x On-demand livestream videos.
61.  The increased funding wil  fund additional bonus content to provide a deep dive into more complex issues by
producing videos that side alongside the short-form videos currently funded. It will also cover ‘Whitiwhiti’ a
short live interview series including panel discussions and one-on-one expert interviews around a researched
topic of regional importance.
62.  The application proposes livestream broadcasts would include Māori Language Week events in September,
under the Official Information Act
Waitangi Day, Te Tai Tokerau Kapa Haka Festival April 2022, and the June 2022 Manu Kōrero Regional Speech
Competition.
63.

64.  While Haukāinga is based in Kaitaia it has increased coverage in the lower Te Tai Tokerau region with a new
team member based in Whangarei.
65.  Content distribution platforms include the new digital app Whare Kōrero- a media platform developed by Te
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Hiku. While the app was only launched in March it is expected it will take over the Tehiku.nz- website as the
primary audience access point for Haukāinga.
66.  Haukāinga is also available via social media and partner platforms include Te Hiku FM, Māori Television and
the Iwi Radio network with livestreams simulcast to regional audiences through the country.
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67.  Te Hiku Media has a Māori Language Plan that outlines  the commitment and expectations around Māori
language delivery in their content.
Staff Opinion
68.  Haukāinga has demonstrated an ability to produce quality, innovative and engaging content deeply connected
with its communities in the Far North. Examples of Haukāinga  short form videos, can be seen here
https://tehiku.nz/te-hiku-tv/haukainga/
69.
reflects a goal to deliver better quality content over increased quantity. At the heart of
the quality improvement is expertise in journalism to ensure that content maintains a standard of excellence
in PIJ. This sees a majority of the funding invested into the people that produce the content.
70.  The cost across multiple levels of content and platforms is justified and a commitment to increase the standard
of journalism is noted.
71.  Assessors were unanimously in favour of this proposal with one commenting, “High quality regional journalism
being produced by this outlet. This is a detailed and wel -expressed application, fully deserving of all the support
we can afford. It sets a standard that others in this field ought to fol ow.” This is a quality application that
delivers  to  multiple  criteria  of  the  PIJF  including  te  Tiriti  o  Waitangi,    regional  media  and  Māori  and  Iwi
Journalism. Funding is recommended.
Local Focus

Very Nice Productions


$840,000
Key Personnel
Title/s
Relevant Past Work


Synopsis
72.  Regional video news for Bay of Plenty, Rotorua, Gisborne, Hawke's Bay, Whanganui, Marlborough,
Nelson/Tasman and the West Coast. This project would deliver 1,920 minutes of fully packaged news video
content (240’ per region).
General Assessment
73.

under the Official Information Act
74.  Local Focus has provided local video content for the Bay of Plenty, Rotorua, Hawkes Bay and Whānganui via
the NZ Herald and NZME regional publications.
75.  The NZ Herald has recently launched a South Island page on its website.
76.

77.

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78.  A video-journalist based in each region makes 1 –2 videos a week with a minimum of 5’ content a week on
average. Text articles are produced alongside the video which appear on the NZ Herald website and regional
NZME papers.
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79.  The applicant says for the past five years,

80.

81.  The quality of the Local Focus content is noted in the seven Voyager Media Awards nominations and awards
won in 2018 and 2020.
Staff Opinion
82.  Assessors were generally in favour of funding with one commenting, “Highly successful existing project, public
interest journalism, significant audience …  meets all PIJ criteria”.
83.  While Very Nice Productions propose appointing a local journalist to work in the West Coast region, there
remains the issue of where the content would be locally distributed. NZME has no current titles on the West
Coast.

84.

85.

. Funding is recommended

Rotorua Weekender - Te Wāhanga Reo Rua
NZME
            $440,000
Key Personnel
Title/s

under the Official Information Act
Synopsis
86.  NZME, the publisher of the weekly free community newspaper the Rotorua Weekender, is seeking funding to
produce a weekly bilingual section in the paper, shining a light on local Rotorua iwi issues and people. This
project would produce a weekly four-page section.
General Assessment
87.  Te Hinonga – Te Wāhanga Reo Rua is the only application in the round to propose a bilingual newspaper.
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88.  After discussions with staff at the shortlisting phase around the capability of the publication to produce the
level of te reo Māori and translation required, the NZME publishers revised their proposal to outsource the
project to

89.

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established locally.
would be responsible for driving the project - delivering te reo local news
journalism including reporting, writing, translation, layout and production.

has both reporting and sub-editing experience.
90.

91.  The section will provide news articles about local iwi issues and people, with versions of each story in te reo
and an English translation as a way of connecting te reo and Māori content with Māori and other cultures in
the Rotorua community.
92.  There are 28,839 Māori living in Rotorua (2018 Census data), making up just over 40% of the district’s total
population. Rotorua is the home of Te Arawa iwi, including Ngāti Pikiao, Tūhourangi and Ngāti Whakaue.
Content produced would heavily reflect this.
93.

The distribution is part of the established NZME network. The content would also be published on
NZME’s digital platforms, including the Rotorua Daily Post and New Zealand Herald’s Kāhu section.
94.

95.  The applicants propose an iwi advisory group to advise NZME and
on strategy and ongoing iwi
partnerships.
Staff Opinion
96.  This is a bold project to produce a bilingual print weekly supplement  in an area  that  has  a  high  Māori
population and would be the only one of its kind.
97.


98.  This is a multi-year funding application, which the PIJF  guidelines state should only be granted under
exceptional circumstances.  Staff notes that this application has intensive set up required  to  execute this
ambitious concept  and

The  assessors were positive about

under the Official Information Act
and this was
another reason why the multi-year funding to seed the publication felt justified.
99.  It is suggested
involvement would help provide a pathway for rangatahi - the next generation
of Māori journalism cadets and connect with another project applying to the PIJF, the Te Rito Journalism
Project.
100.  Assessors were unanimously in favour of this proposal being funded with one commenting “Highly
professional project based on much-needed diversity journalism. Should have as much support as we can
afford.” Funding is recommended

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Te Ao Mārama

  Salient Magazine


$7,291
Key Personnel
Title/s

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Synopsis
101.  This application seeks funding for a special edition of Salient (Te Ao Mārama) produced by Māori students at
Victoria University of Wellington.
General Assessment
102.  Te  Ao Mārama,  is the Māori  student's media magazine at Victoria University of Wellington and was first
introduced 30 years ago. The magazine is curated by Māori students in partnership with the Salient student
Media team annually during Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori, Māori language week.
103.  Te Ao Mārama would be guest edited by Ngāi Tauira (the Māori Students Association at Victoria) with support
from Te Pararē (the student magazine of Te Mana Akonga National Māori Students Association), reporting on
issues relevant to Tauira Māori.
104.  This project would produce one 40-page magazine, with 2,000 copies printed and articles uploaded online
across two platforms.
105.  Funding for this year’s edition will provide mentor support and training for the tauira involved in the
publication. Mentors including
will provide support and editorial guidance.
106.  Funding will provide for three workshops (starting in July) to engage writers, bringing journalism speakers in
to upskill participants and plan for production.
107.  Last year’s Te Ao Mārama edition can be found here.
Staff Opinion
108.  This application will meet the needs of a small Māori audience at Victoria University but will also play a role
in encouraging journalism among Māori graduates.
109.  Mentor,
, provided an impassioned letter of support detailing how
time at the
magazine in the past had influenced

110.  This application meets the criteria of PIJF in supporting Māori journalism and Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
111.  Assessors were generally in favour although one was concerned at the standard of student magazines stating
they were “long on opinion and short on journalistic reporting.” However, other assessors felt the application
satisfied all PIJ criteria and was a good example of Te Tiriti partnership aimed at a hard to reach rangatahi
audience. Funding is recommended.
under the Official Information Act





Released

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under the Official Information Act

The South Today



Allied Press


$675,000
Key Personnel
Title/s
Relevant Past Work

Released

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Synopsis
124.  The South Today delivers video news content to local communities in collaboration with the Allied Press'
daily and community newspaper network. This project proposes to deliver 622 video news video clips at an
average of 14 per week over 48 weeks along with The South Today Bulletin of five episodes per week of up
to 15’ of video content.
General Assessment
125.  The South Today has been funded in its current form since 2016 via NZ On Air’s Regional Media Fund. Across
that time its funding has broadly sat at around $400,000 per year. Under the PIJF, Al ied Press has requested
an additional $275K annual funding.
126.  The additional funding will be used to

127.  A new video news producer/line producer role has been included to oversee the delivery of quality local
news content.
128.  The applicant proposes

The content will remain available on demand via YouTube, in prominent
places on the ODT.co.nz homepage and regional websites, as a downloadable podcast and via Channel 39 in
Dunedin and Invercargill.
129.  Allied Press publications will promote video content via a permanent channel on their home pages and
embedded within stories located on the site and on social media and QR codes on printed media will take
readers through to video content.
130.  Al  video content wil  continue to be distributed on Al ied Press' South Island website platforms – ODT.co.nz
and regional community websites including North and South Canterbury, Christchurch Starnews.co.nz, North
Otago, Otago, Southland, Central Otago and Lakes District, and the West Coast of the South Island.
131.

132.  Regional community newspapers will be expected to create one showcase video per week and use editorial
space to present this video news story to their readers.
Staff Opinion
133.  Leveraging the 19 local publications within the Allied Press stable provides comprehensive coverage of all
regions of the South Island apart from the Nelson, Marlborough and Buller districts.
under the Official Information Act
134.


135.  The extra $275,000 to fund this increased video coverage of five additional regions will increase video
storytelling across areas underserved at present. The reduction of the news bulletin and more emphasis on
embedded content and online content wil  provide audience with on-demand content without the need to
view the current Dunedin based 30-minute TV programme.
136.
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137.
Staff
will speak to Allied Press further about this and discuss potential options around Te Tiriti training
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programmes and possible collaboration with iwi radio Tahu FM. Staff notes that since the PIJF summit, Allied
Press has proactively been in contact with staff to discuss potential Te Tiriti training.
138.  Assessors were generally in favour of funding with one commenting, “Hyper local journalism project, meets
PIJ criteria, excel ent model of decentralised newsgathering, wel  outlined project, good track record in
producing video content.” Funding is recommended

Whakatupuria Te Moana A Toi               Radio Bay of Plenty Limited

$97,000
Key Personnel
Title/s

Synopsis
139.  A radio-based, multimedia project to report to the community on the multiple Provincial Growth Unit
projects in the Eastern Bay of Plenty. This project would deliver 50’ of video, 200 x 2’ programmes for
radio/podcasts, 40 x 90’ live interviews, 20 x 5’ other interviews and news stories.
General Assessment
140.  This radio based multi-media project aims to report on the 11 Provincial Growth Fund projects in the Eastern
Bay worth nearly $200m. It will provide a “warts and all” look at the progress of the extensive network of
PGU(PGF) projects in order to show how public money is being spent in the interests of development.
141.  The project will enable Radio Bay of Plenty to hire a bi-lingual journalist to assist with the project in addition
to its two current journalists.
142.  The proposal is to set up a project office in Ōpōtiki to work alongside the two journalists currently based at
the Whakatane station 1XX.
143.

144.

Staff Opinion
under the Official Information Act
145.  Radio Bay of Plenty has experience in producing a similar large-scale project, “Discover Our Local” a 74 episode
video series showcasing local people and places during 2020, which  placed  second  at the International
Broadcast Idea Bank convention in Oklahoma.
146.  The applicant believes this project is beyond its normal scope of quick turnaround daily news and while this
application could also meet the criteria for the upcoming role-based round, staff felt that given the nature of
the PGF focus, it met the project-based round criteria and was therefore suitable to fund out of this round.
147.  It does provide PIJ in investigating the impact the PGF projects wil  have on the community, the progress they
are making and how they are spending public funds.
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148.  Assessors noted positively that this proposal felt squarely focused on local audiences.
149.  Given the depth of investigation that may be required, this project will require careful monitoring to ensure
journalistic standards of fairness and balance are achieved and it does hold the PGF projects to account.
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150.  The applicant has made attempts to demonstrate a meaningful Te Tiriti o Waitangi partnership with a proposal
for bi-lingual content and proposed collaboration with local iwi radio. Funding is recommended.

ATTACHMENTS

under the Official Information Act
Released
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