NZ On Air Announces Platinum Funding

15th August 2011

NZ On Air Announces Platinum Funding

NZ On Air has announced new programmes supported by its Platinum Fund for screening in 2012. The projects are being given the green light just as many of the fruits of last year’s round hit the screens including Tangiwai which topped the ratings for TV One last night.

“There is a wonderful selection in this particular funding round” says NZ On Air Chief Executive Jane Wrightson. “The Platinum Fund allows us to invest in special projects we wouldn’t otherwise be in a position to support.”

New funding has been allocated to two strong drama projects, What Really Happened? The Women’s Vote and City Under Siege. What Really Happened... is in a similar style to this year’s Treaty of Waitangi story and will tell the story of the fight for women’s suffrage led by Kate Sheppard. City Under Siege will tell the story of the Police’s 50 hour siege of Jan Molenaar’s Napier house in 2009.

An ambitious 6 x1 hour series from Natural History New Zealand for TV One will bring new perspectives to New Zealand’s National Parks. Wild at Heart helps mark the 125th anniversary of the establishment of the first park, Tongariro, in 1887.

Arts and Culture fans won’t miss out either, With Strings Attached will feature the NZ Symphony Orchestra in collaboration with popular artists Che Fu and Fat Freddy’s Drop for TV One. Nga Reo Hou will see six important Māori plays from the renowned Taki Rua theatre company being staged for television, to screen on Māori Television.

“The quality of applications for this round was extremely high. With special features like Bliss (Katherine Mansfield), Rage (1981 Springbok Tour), the biopic Billy and the new series of Underbelly: Land Of The Long Green Cloud all going to air shortly, audiences will really be able to see the positive impact of the Platinum Fund” says Ms Wrightson.

ENDS

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