Episode Details

Christchurch artists are pushing back against claims of unfair funding, pointing to filmmaker Gerard Smyth’s success with NZ On Air—over $1.6 million across four series—to prove the South Island gets support. While Creative New Zealand’s funding is often criticized as too concentrated, Smyth’s work shows public cash can empower bold, locally rooted stories. Public funding isn’t a crutch—it’s a lifeline for creators chasing vision over profit. Meanwhile, regional funding models are evolving, and many Christchurch creatives are thriving without government dollars, embracing entrepreneurial hustle in a tight fiscal climate.

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