Core Funding Decision
You undoubtedly have all heard that the New Zealand Film Commission is stopping core funding from 1 July 2027 to all nine organisations that have been receiving it:
Occupational Guilds & Associations
1. Directors and Editors Guild of Aotearoa New Zealand (DEGANZ)
2. Equity New Zealand (Equity)
3. NZ Writers Guild (NZWG)
4. Screen Industry Guild of Aotearoa New Zealand (SIGANZ)
5. Screen Production & Development Association (SPADA)
Māori
6. Ngā Aho Whakaari Māori in Screen (NAW)
Equity Organisations
7. Pacific Island Screen Artists (PISA)
8. Pan-Asian Screen Collective (PASC)
9. Women in Film and Television New Zealand (WIFT)
Professional Development
10. Script to Screen
This is clearly going to have a significant negative impact on the individual organisations and the wider screen sector.
We have all been engaged with NZFC across the last few months in discussions around core funding and “sector cohesion” or in their opinion, lack of it in the screen sector, as they conducted their review. These are actually two separate things but were conflated into one for the purposes of the review.
For the occupational guilds (DEGANZ, Equity, NZWG, SIGANZ), the cut directly threatens the last seven years of work we have been engaged in over the Screen Industry Workers Act, to get collective agreements in place to help ensure fair rates, terms and conditions for screen workers—rates that are paid through funding body budgets including NZFC. Weakened occupational guilds will find it more difficult to represent their members in any kind of negotiation, advocacy or lobbying.
We will now as modern vernacular ascribes, be required to pivot.
DEGANZ has for many years been able to offer a comprehensive range of workshops, events and services to our membership and the wider industry, which must now come under the microscope as we examine all costs and revenues. The DEGANZ board is already engaged on this, discussing next steps including responses to the NZFC on this decision, and talking with the other guilds and organisations about concerted action.
Some of the organisations affected will survive. Some may not. At such a perilous time for the industry, it’s crucial that every screen worker joins the occupational guild that represents them.
DEGANZ and its board and staff are committed to the work we do and continuing to do it. You will hear more from us on this in the days, weeks and months ahead as we work to ensure the creative, cultural and financial wellbeing of our director and editor members.
Tui Ruwhiu
Executive Director
Last updated on 1 October 2026