Waiata Takitahi – New Music Funding

Waiata Takitahi is a joint funding initiative from NZ On Air and Te Māngai Pāho, supporting New Zealand artists who want to record and release a bilingual single for general audiences. To be eligible, at least 25% of your song's lyrics must be in te reo Māori, and the music must qualify as New Zealand music.

The fund provides up to $14,000 (plus GST if registered) for production costs, with an additional mandatory Artist Creation Fee of $1,000 (plus GST) paid at final drawdown — bringing the total available to $15,000 per project.

Funding can be used for

• Recording a single song
• Creating music videos and other visual content
• Promotion, publicity, and marketing for the release
• Paying a te reo Māori language consultant (mātanga reo)

Artists from any cultural background are welcome to apply. NZ On Air and Te Māngai Pāho expect a mātanga reo will be involved to ensure quality and cultural relevance of the te reo Māori content. If you don't yet have a language consultant confirmed, you can be matched with one through Te Māngai Pāho.

To be eligible to apply, you must meet at least five out of 25 pre-application criteria. These include factors such as:

• Potential to increase NZ music on radio
• Potential to reach online audiences through streams, views, and shares
• Integration of te reo Māori in the waiata
• Artist track record
• Cultural value for New Zealand audiences
• Overall strength of the application, plan, and media targets

Applications open 15 October 2026 and close 5 November 2026, with decisions expected by 4 December 2026. Apply via the NZ On Air music funding portal.