Music Commission News

The Aotearoa Touring Programme invests in approved domestic touring costs, to enable more NZ artists to grow sustainable careers and increase the access to live music for NZ audiences. The Aotearoa Touring Programme is a contestable fund intended to reinvigorate the live music sector and assist in the recovery from the effects of COVID-19 in the domestic touring market.

As one of the initiatives in the Government’s New Zealand Music Recovery Fund, the Aotearoa Touring Programme is part of the Manatū Taonga Ministry of Culture & Heritage led Arts & Culture COVID Recovery Programme, which is focused on the recovery, regeneration and revitalisation of the cultural sector.

The Programme is run by the NZ Music Commission to grow the potential for original New Zealand artists touring across Aotearoa and enable more New Zealanders to experience live, local music. It is a matched investment programme (i.e. the Programme will match your investment), so applicants can apply for 50% of the eligible costs for undertaking national tours across Tiers 1 and 2. The different Tiers have a maximum limit for each grant.

Applications for this round closed on 18 May 2022

Aotearoa Touring Programme Tier 1 – Twenty-nine x Tier one grants were confirmed this round:

Trip Change 7 date North Island tour for debut album “Lies & Lullabies”

Emma Dilemma 6 date tour to support debut album “SPIT”

Skram 14 date North Island tour to support Debut Album ‘Walk Into The Sun’

Elliott Dawson 4 intimate shows to promote debut album “Hang Low”

Danica Bryant Debut 6 date national tour in support of sophomore EP “Ego Death”

The Rising Tide 5 Date Tour of North and South Island

MAC SUMMER ‘Connected’ National Tour

Rei 10 date tour of the North and South Island in support of new te reo album Ariki

Mirror Ritual + Porpoise 5 date tour taking two new bands around Aotearoa

In The Shallows and Looking For Alaska 14 date double bill tour

Luke Buda 4 date musical duo tour to promote solo album “BUDA”

Summer Thieves 8 date tour

Georgia Lines 5 date tour of Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga, Christchurch and Dunedin

Fazerdaze National tour in support of the Break! EP

Foley 7 national tour to support upcoming debut album

Arahi 6 date North Island debut tour

Arthur Ahbez 8 date tour in support of the new single

Erny Belle 6 date tour in support of the release of debut album

ANOTHER LIFE – Rayner / McLennan / Kuhtze 5 date North Island tour for debut self-titled album

TE KAAHU 4 date North Island tour in support of debut album “Te Kaahu O Rangi” in its entirety

SKILAA 5 date tour to promote the first single and accompanying music video “I Never Knew”.

Diablos Caravan 28 date national tour in support of a new live album

Sam V 4 date tour

Jenny Mitchell 8 date nationwide tour in support of upcoming album “Tug of War”

Evan Rhys 3 date tour in support of EP “Flickering Stars”

Tom Rodwell & Storehouse 16 date tour in support of the album “Wood & Waste”

Luke Thompson 10 date tour in support of fifth album “The Trials and Tribulations of Adam and His Seed”

Shepherds Reign 4 date tour in support of single “Ua Masaa”

Rei 10 date tour in support of new te reo album “Ariki”

Aotearoa Touring Programme Tier 2 – Fourteen x Tier 2 grants were confirmed this round:

Bret McKenzie 11 date national all-ages tour for the release debut solo musical album “Songs Without Jokes”

Mild Orange 6 date tour in support of third album “Looking For Space”

Tiny Ruins 7 date tour in support of new album “Ceremony”

Racing 7 date tour of new album

stellar* 4 date tour celebrating 25 years of stellar*

The Veils 6 date tour in support of new album

The Beths 5 date theatre tour presenting The Beth’s upcoming album

House of Shem, Three Houses Down, Ardijah, Herbs Acoustic, Swiss, Israel Starr. Deach, Luke Whaanga, DJ Bounce, Riddim Cartel, Victor J Sefo. Celebrating NZ Artists/Musicians/Bands during New Zealand Music Month

Broods 3 date tour in support of fourth album “Space Island”

MUROKI 6 date national tour supporting the release of “Heading East” EP

Avantdale Bowling Club 6 date national tour in support of second album

HERBS ACOUSTIC DJ D’OOSE 3 date tour

Montell2099 5 date nationwide tour in support of upcoming album

About the Purpose and Criteria of the Aotearoa Touring Programme

The overarching goal of the Aotearoa Touring Programme is to increase national touring activity by New Zealand musicians performing original, live New Zealand music.

The objectives of the Programme are to:

Maximise the New Zealand live music industry’s economic recovery from COVID-19
Create skill development opportunities in live music performance and touring to strengthen and grow the New Zealand live music industry
Support New Zealand artists to grow viable and sustainable careers
Promote more opportunities for audiences across New Zealand to access original, live New Zealand music.

Applications to the Aotearoa Touring Programme will be limited to:

1. Businesses or individuals that are registered in New Zealand, physically located in New Zealand, and

employing individuals who are working legally in New Zealand.

2. New Zealand artists performing original New Zealand music. For the definition of ‘New Zealander’ and

‘original New Zealand music’.

3. Tours that comprise at least three venues or locations outside of the performer’s home town.

Applicants also need to fulfil the following criteria:

· Be financially viable to the extent that they can demonstrate how they can finance at least 50% of the cost

of the touring project.

· Be able to demonstrate they have the capacity and capability (including financial, business planning and

delivery support) to undertake the touring project.

· Are not crown entities, government departments or their agencies. This includes any organisation that receives baseline funding from Creative New Zealand’s Toi Tōtara or Toi Uru Kahikatea investment programmes.

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More information on the programme can be obtained by contacting Emily Crowther at the NZ Music Commission on (09) 376 0115, or by emailing touring@nzmusic.org.nz

Media enquiries should be directed to touring@nzmusic.org.nz

Artist photos are available upon request.