We’re pleased to let you know that Registrations for the 2026 round of the Game Development Sector Rebate (GDSR) has opened.
GDSR Registration is the first step in applying for the rebate. Even if you have applied in previous years, you still need to complete this step. Once registered, you will then receive a letter confirming whether you are eligible to apply for the rebate in 2026. Only those who complete registration and are confirmed as eligible will be invited to proceed to the application round in April.
Getting started with GDSR Registration
Kicking off your GDSR Registration is easy. To begin, just go to our NZ On Air Portal.
If you already have a login:
- Click the ‘Login’ button at the top right of the page. Once you’re in, select the ‘New Application’ tab and choose ‘2026 GDSR Registration’ to get started. Follow the steps and click ‘Submit’ when you’re done.
If you don’t yet have a login:
- Click ‘Create Account’ at the top right of the page and follow the prompts to set up an NZ On Air account. You’ll receive an email asking you to verify your address - just click on the link to activate your account (Be sure to check your spam or junk folder if you can’t see it in your inbox).
- You will then be redirected to the NZ On Air Portal where you can now log in to your account and begin your GDSR Registration. Just click on the ‘New Application’ tab, select ‘2026 GDSR Registration’ and follow the easy steps.
Registrations will be open until 4pm, Friday 27 February NZT. They will be in touch again in March, once registrations have closed, to confirm next steps.
For those deemed eligible, GDSR Applications will then open on Wednesday 1 April 2026 and close at 4pm, Friday 15 May NZT.
WEBINARS
Two webinars will be held in the next six weeks to run through the GDSR process.
- Tuesday 3 February: In this webinar, they will run through the GDSR process and explain the refinements made to documents such as the Financial Details Template and Game Details Template to streamline them for further clarity and accuracy.
- Tuesday 17 March: Ahead of applications opening, this webinar will step through the full application process as well as dive deeper into financial reporting and expectations.
Both sessions will be jointly hosted by the NZGDA and NZ On Air, and will include an opportunity for Q&A with the NZ On Air team. To register for one or both webinars, just go to the NZGDA website.
All the information about the GDSR, including a handy flowchart and detailed timeline, is available HERE