NZ On Air 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.

“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 6x1 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 Maori plays from the renowned Taki Rua theatre company being staged for television, to screen on Maori 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.

Funding Decisions

What Really Happened? The Women's Vote
1 x 90 minutes
Broadcaster: TV One
Producer: Eyeworks New Zealand Film & TV Drama Ltd
$1, 563,200

City Under Seige
1 x 2 hours
Broadcaster: TV One
Producer: Screentime
$2,644,965

Wild At Heart
6 x 1 hour
Broadcaster: TV One
Producer: NHNZ
Up to $1,463,330

With Strings Attached
2 x 90 minutes
Broadcaster: TV One
Producer: Eyeworks New Zealand Film & TV Drama Ltd
$529,722

Nga Reo Hou
6 x 2 Hours
Broadcaster: M?ori Television
Producer: Black Inc Media
Up to $827,185

2011 Historical Docu-Drama Strand
2 x 90 minutes
Broadcaster: TV One
Producer:TBC
Up to $1,800,000