Rt Hon Helen Clark
Prime Minister of New Zealand
Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage
22 May 2008 Media Statement
Recognition for New Zealand authors in Budget 08
Prime Minister and Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Helen Clark announced today that New Zealand authors have
gained well-deserved recognition with an additional $2 million over four years being invested in the New Zealand Authors
Fund.
Helen Clark today also announced that the government is developing new, stand alone legislation to establish a New
Zealand Public Lending Right (NZPLR), to replace the Authors’ Fund.
“Like other similar schemes throughout the world, the New Zealand initiative will give authors a right to receive
payments in recognition of the public benefit derived from the free use of their works in libraries, subject to
eligibility criteria,” Helen Clark said.
“The New Zealand Public Lending Right will be administered by a government department, with input from an external
advisory group.
“The New Zealand Public Lending Right is a response to concerns raised by authors over a number of years about the
Authors’ Fund. Entrenching the scheme in its own legislation and placing its administration within a government
department will give the scheme greater statutory protection and remove the risk of it being subject to changes to
another agency’s legislation.
“The Authors’ Fund will continue to operate, as currently administered by Creative New Zealand, until the new Public
Lending Right is established. The additional $500,000 per annum is available to Creative New Zealand for the Authors’
Fund, thus raising the Fund’s budget to $2 million per annum, as part of Budget 2008.
“I am delighted to announce the new initiative and additional funding for the current scheme. Both will go some further
way towards recognising the vital role our authors play in our cultural life. Many New Zealanders rely on libraries
providing works by favourite, or newly discovered New Zealand authors. Our literature is a great gift to our nation and
one we should never take for granted,” Helen Clark said.
ENDS