Boosted X Moana is back in its sixth year supporting Pasifika creatives to crowdfund their creative kaupapa through Boosted, Aotearoa’s only arts-dedicated crowdfunding platform.
This initiative is part of the ongoing and growing partnership between Boosted and the Creative New Zealand Pacific Strategy team, grounded in a shared commitment to uplift and invest in Pasifika creatives across the motu.
Last year, they brought to life their funding cohorts, consisting of four opportunities designed to provide Pasifika creatives with year-round access to funding. These cohorts also ensured participants received hands-on mentoring and the support of a collective of Pasifika creatives as they raised funds for their projects.
In 2026, they are changing things slightly. Boosted X Moana will support creative kaupapa with a total of $150,000 in match funding available. They will run two funding cohorts and aim to select nine projects per cohort, offering larger match funding opportunities for 2026.
Key Dates
Cohort 1
Registrations open: Friday, 10 April 2026 – 10:00am
Registrations close: Friday, 24 April 2026 – 5:00pm
Successful & unsuccessful projects notified: Friday, 1 May 2026
Campaigns go live: Monday, 8 June 2026 – 10:00amCampaigns close: Wednesday, 8 July 2026 – 10:00am
Match Funding Breakdown
Each cohort will support nine projects, with match funding allocated as follows:
Match funding is capped at the allocated amount for each project. Once a project reaches its match funding cap, it can continue fundraising through public donations.
Who Can Register
To be eligible, projects must:
Eligible creative disciplines include (but are not limited to): performance, film, visual arts, fashion, and digital storytelling.
Projects that are not ready to launch or cannot commit to active campaigning may not be suitable.
Please note: Projects are not eligible if they have received Creative New Zealand funding, or intend to apply for Creative New Zealand funding, in 2026.
How to Register
Visit the Boosted “Start a Project” page:
https://www.thearts.co.nz/boosted/start-a-project
Indicate during registration that you are applying for Boosted X Moana.
Submit your project details before the registration deadline.
After registering, you will be prompted to book a one-on-one call with a Boosted X Moana mentor. This call must be completed before 24 April.
Projects are assessed based on:
Please note that not all registered projects will be selected for match funding. Projects not selected may still choose to crowdfund through Boosted independently.
All selected projects must attend a mandatory 45-minute online workshop, providing an in-depth breakdown of how to prepare for and run a successful crowdfunding campaign.
Selected project owners will then prepare and launch their campaigns within the cohort timeframe, with ongoing support from the Boosted team.
If you would like to discuss eligibility, readiness, or timing, you are encouraged you to reach out early.