The Information for Applicants for the NZ On Air second funding round for the 2026/27 Financial Year, Round Rua, is now available HERE.
In Round Rua they will accept applications across the following range of priority audiences and content genres: Scripted, Non-fiction, Children, Youth, Content Development, Capability and Discoverability.
Allocations for this round are:
Non-fiction
- Approximately $10m for Non-fiction projects.
- They will accept Non-fiction applications for screen content, with priority given to broad-reach factual series with strong public media value, larger-scale productions with budgets above $500,000, projects that create significant employment opportunities and NZ Screen Production Rebate (NZSPR) productions seeking last-in funding. This includes documentaries, national event coverage, comedy formats and podcasts. Applications for reality shows will be accepted in this round, with priority given to local formats intending to access the NZSPR.
Journalism
- They will accept applications to the ‘specialist current affairs and investigative projects’ strand of their journalism funding. These tend to be projects delivered as daily, weekly or occasional series delivering high volume at low cost-per-minute, are digital-first, have strong audience reach and meaningful platform contribution.
Scripted
- Approximately $8m for Scripted projects.
- They will prioritise applications for larger-scale series projects seeking $1m-$3m in this round, and welcome drama and comedy series, larger-scale productions and NZSPR projects with strong financing and platform support.
Music/Sync Licensing
- They welcome applications from Scripted projects that plan to incorporate at least 80 percent local music (both track licensing and composition) into their productions.
Tamariki/Children
- Approximately $5m for Tamariki content.
- They welcome applications for Scripted and Non-fiction children's projects into this round, however will not be accepting applications for games. Applications will ideally be tailored for multiple platforms, with well-defined strategies for engaging the target audience.
- They also welcome production-ready NZSPR projects for tamariki that require ‘last-in’ funding.
Rangatahi/Youth
- Approximately $1m for Rangatahi content.
- They welcome applications for bold and innovative local content that will reach rangatahi audiences (15 to 24-year-olds). While they ncourage local platform support, projects will ideally have a multi-platform distribution strategy.
- Rangatahi projects may have YouTube as a primary platform but will need to meet additional criteria to replace the role that a commissioning platform typically plays.
Please read the Round Rua Information for Funding Applicants HERE to find out more.
Development and Capability
NZ On Air is continuing to work on refreshing their approach to Capability and Discoverability funding and align with the Government’s Amplify strategy for the cultural sector, which prioritises coordinated, high-impact investment in sector capability and discoverability. This may mean some rationalisation of how they fund industry events and capability-building activity, and some projects they have previously supported may no longer sit within scope. They are continuing to work alongside NZFC and Te Māngai Pāho as part of this and will keep the sector informed as this work progresses.
Timeline
Applications open: Thursday 20 August
All applications must be made through our NZ On Air Portal. Only applications submitted through this portal will be accepted.
Applications close: Thursday 10 September, 4pm
Late applications will not be considered. In very exceptional circumstances, they may consider an out-of-time application for time-sensitive projects agreed prior by the Head of Funding or the Associate Head of Funding.
Decisions confirmed, applicants notified: Friday 20 November