$82,800 for a broom? 2023 Kiingi Tuheitia Portraiture Awards

The Ministry for Culture and Heritage confirmed in an OIA response that it gave $82,800 to support the Kiingi Tuheitia Portraiture Awards 2023 — a competition for Māori artists aged 35 and under.

One of the runner-up works, shown above, features a broom. While art is subjective, most taxpayers would be surprised to learn their money is going toward funding competitions that hand out large sums for entries like this.

Of course, supporting young artists is valuable. But so is accountability for how public funds are spent. When everyday New Zealanders are tightening their belts, it’s fair to ask whether $82,800 for a single art competition is the best use of limited taxpayer money.

Transparency and scrutiny aren’t anti-art, they’re about making sure funding decisions reflect the priorities of the people who actually pay for them.

Read the full Official Information Act response here: