NZSO Bill enshrines orchestra’s iconic cultural role
Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Helen Clark today announced that the government is introducing legislation to
enshrine the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra’s role as one of New Zealand’s cultural icons.
“The NZSO is a jewel in New Zealand’s cultural structure, but it needs protecting. The new legislation will both enhance
its ability to perform to the highest international standards, and preserve its status as an iconic cultural
institution,” Helen Clark said.
“In 2000, the government put the NZSO on a stable financial footing with a one-off $3 million capital injection and an
extra $1.4 million annually. With the new legislative changes, the NZSO will have the platform from which to meet its
objective of performing throughout New Zealand and overseas at an international standard.”
Helen Clark said the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra Bill explicitly requires the NZSO to provide the public of New
Zealand with international-standard performances of symphonic music.
Other provisions require the orchestra to contribute to the development of a distinctively New Zealand cultural
environment and to encourage New Zealand musical composition.
The orchestra’s current legislation, the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra Act 1988, does not specify its purpose or
functions. Under that legislation, the Orchestra is established as a limited liability company, therefore operating
within the requirements of the Companies Act 1993.
“This commercial focus is an anomaly in that the orchestra does not primarily exist to make money, but rather to ensure
New Zealanders have access to a very significant cultural resource. The new legislation will give the NZSO a much better
basis on which to operate as a foremost cultural institution.
“The government will nevertheless expect the Orchestra to operate in a financially responsible manner and maintain its
financial viability.”
The New Zealand Symphony Orchestra Bill changes the status of the NZSO from a limited liability company to a non-company
Crown entity and specifies its role as the national orchestra of New Zealand.
Helen Clark said that nothing in the new legislation diminishes the NZSO’s ability to make independent artistic
decisions.
“The NZSO will still act without ministerial direction in artistic matters.”
The NZSO was formed in 1946 as part of the New Zealand Broadcasting Corporation. It was established as a limited
liability company during the broadcasting reforms of the late 1980s. It is also a Crown entity, with responsibilities
under the Public Finance Act 1989, and as a non-company Crown entity will continue to have those responsibilities.