Our 2011 election manifesto - Labour Party

We have regularly reviewed and updated the legislation covering arts, culture and heritage
agencies and sectors, including intellectual property laws. We have developed stricter
measures against those who attempt to profit from pirated and counterfeit works.
Labour has recognised the need to explore how creative rights for traditional knowledge,
including Māori, Pacific and other cultural designs, images, songs and dances, can be
protected where these cultural taonga are not owned individually, yet are increasingly
subject to commercial exploitation in New Zealand and overseas.
We have initiated work to protect and promote respect for traditional knowledge in New
Zealand, across the Pacific and beyond.
Labour will develop outreach delivery systems of collections from Te Papa “Our
Place” through the National Services Unit to sites to be identified by the Auckland
and Christchurch Councils respectively and the regional interest groups.
Labour will consult across the creative and communication sectors to develop and
implement intellectual property policies that encourage innovation and rewards for
creativity, recognising that intellectual property laws will need to evolve into the future
with changes in digital technology.
Labour will continue the work to establish a Collections Council for the identification
of collections of national significance and objects of significance, and ensure that
regions that meet air and temperature standards and safety guidelines will have
access to those materials for display to the public to increase the community
knowledge, enjoyment and appreciation of our kiwi heritage. We will further develop
partnerships with local authorities, businesses and NGOs.
Over time and as resources allow, Labour will:
Develop a Centre for Arts Conservation at Te Papa and agree on a nationwide
approach for taonga and art restoration including the establishment of a
national funding mechanism for conservation of taonga and art held
regionally.
Establish a New Zealand-wide distributed national collection to increase
community knowledge, enjoyment and appreciation of New Zealand‟s
heritage through collection holdings.
Growing the film sector
Labour knows that competition between countries to attract film productions is intense.
Labour introduced a grant scheme in 2003 to attract big-budget film and television
production to New Zealand, which ensured that blockbuster movies like The Lion, the Witch
24