With the approach of the election the New Zealand Society of Authors National Council felt it would be helpful to our members to ask the major political parties for their responses to a range of issues which are currently of concern to us.
With the approach of the election the New Zealand Society of Authors National Council felt it would be helpful to our members to ask the major political parties for their responses to a range of issues which are currently of concern to us. By ‘major’ we mean those reasonably likely to be represented in the next parliament, and we therefore circulated these parties and sought their feedback. Those who did not respond were sent a reminder. This notwithstanding, the ACT, Mana and Maori parties still did not respond. The Progressive party is not putting candidates forward in consequence of the retirement of Jim Anderton, and so their views were not sought.
The Society of Authors adopts a non-partisan political approach and does not recommend any particular party. We believe that writers in particular are fully able to make their own assessments in such matters and will vote accordingly. This material is presented in the interests of keeping you informed. We will continue to pursue these issues and others that may arise from time to time whoever happens to be in government, as has been our policy from our inception.
Tony Simpson
National President
October 2011
We are concerned that the Arts Council / Creative New Zealand has lost sight of its primary purpose which, in our context, is the advancement of the writing, publishing, and reading of New Zealand literature. How does your party see the future general role of the Arts Council and its resourcing in relation to this objective? We would particularly like to see the abandonment of the concept of a ‘leadership organisation’ in this area and the re-convening of the some-time Literature Committee. What is your response to that objective?
Greens
The Green Party thinks that the Arts Council plays an important role in cultivating and supporting artists from many different backgrounds and many different art forms. Under the current government we have seen a reduction in the activity of the Arts Council’s ability to help promote. While we do not have any specific policy on whether we would abandon the leadership organisation and the reconvening of the some-time literature committee we support improved communication and cooperation between the arts council and these groups and would be open to discussions about what the appropriate structure should be in regards to the advancement of the writing, publishing and reading of New Zealand literature.
Labour
A decade ago our cultural agencies were systemically under-funded, to the extent of only just surviving financially. Labour has shown its commitment to supporting the creative sector, with sustained investment and leadership to enable our arts and cultural organisations to thrive. You raise concerns that the Toi Aotearoa Arts Council (Creative New Zealand) has lost sight of its primary purpose. Labour will continue to invest in CNZ at the appropriate level.
We would like funding and support roles for non-fiction literature to be a bigger part of CNZ’s statement of intent. We agree that more could be done for literature within CNZ and strengthening that commitment with the statement of intent would be the best approach. Cuts to the already low amount of funding available to non-fiction writers, and the place of non-fiction writing in New Zealand, are issues that need to be addressed.
National (from Chris Finlayson – Minister for the Arts)
This has been a complaint made against the Arts Council for as long as I can remember. When I was chair of the Arts Board I remember meeting with members of your Society to discuss this issue. I then paid a great deal of attention to the level of funding made available to the literature component of Arts Council funding. I think the Arts Council actually does a good job in advancing New Zealand literature. I shall deal with the issue of the Frankfurt Book Fair later in this response, but I have been very impressed at the tremendous assistance provided by the Arts Council as we prepare for next year's fair. I think the re-establishment of the literature committee would be a complete waste of time.
On the issue of resourcing, if you look at the Arts Council's annual report you will see that its funding has in fact increased because of my success in changing the amount paid by the Lotteries to, among others, Creative New Zealand. It is quite simply a myth that spending on the arts has decreased over the last three years.
New Zealand First
NZ First supports the concept of a literature committee as being better aligned to the purposes of an evolving creative body of, and in, NZ literature.
United Future
With regard to the Arts Council, I personally share some of your concerns about its role and current direction. I have always seen the Council’s primary function as being the fostering and development of a robust artistic culture in New Zealand, across all artistic disciplines. I have felt that, over recent years, it has moved towards a more commercially-focused position. While I cannot be specific about the details, I see merit in the notion of re-convening a literature committee and making moves to ensure that the Council works alongside the artistic community, rather than in isolation from it as currently appears to be the case.
We are supportive of the recent initiatives which make it clear (and in particular amendments to the Copyright Act), that downloading copyright material without the consent of the copyright owner is illegal and subject to significant potential sanction. But we are concerned that this will not of itself solve the underlying problem. This is essentially how writers and license holders are to be compensated in such circumstances for the use of this copyright. In particular there is the practical difficulty of mounting legal action given the costs involved. We are also concerned that cell phone down loading has been held over for a period. We have had to deal with this problem before when it was a question of educational institutions in particular using photocopiers to pirate extracts from published works. The solution in the end was a collecting society, and perhaps this is also the way forward here. Does your party have a view of this matter and/or a preferred solution?
Greens
The Green party has consistently opposed the copyright infringement legislation. We, like the New Zealand Society of Authors, are also concerned that it has not, and will not, solve the underlying problem. The publishing industry, like other parts of the arts sector need to figure out new ways to distribute and gain revenue from the works they put out. For example, the digital downloading of books is becoming more common and so the government needs to facilitate these new methods, not entrench old distribution models. Our solution is to establish a Literature Commission to undertake research and to act as a champion for New Zealand writers and writing. It would examine issues such as copyright and digital rights as they affect writers, and examine ways of raising remuneration for writers and protecting their intellectual property.
Labour
You raise concerns that current changes will not deal with the underlying problem of how writers and license holders are to be compensated for the use of copyright material. Labour fully supports New Zealand’s vibrant and innovative creative industries and we strongly believe that those who create music, films and literary content should have their work protected from piracy. Our copyright policy will not put our hugely important creative industries at risk. We will actively encourage new business models that will allow content to be distributed online in an affordable and accessible way. These new business models will also provide for suitable returns for the creators of this copyrighted material.
National
You raise some very interesting issues. This government amended the law to make it more workable, as the solution proposed by the Labour Party in its last term of office turned out to be utterly impractical. We will keep a very close eye on developments over the next period.
New Zealand First
New Zealand First does not believe the recent initiatives and law change will work. Insufficient time and study went in to this law and it needs to be revisited with the aim of producing a law that will work
United Future
United Future has been heavily involved in the changes to copyright legislation which have occurred under the present government. We have sought to ensure that a fair and sensible solution could be reached, and I believe that the current legislation meets this objective. I note your ongoing concerns, however, and would be happy to maintain a dialogue with your organization on this issue as it develops.
We have longstanding concerns about the manner in which the funding of the PLR is set. As you will know the levels of funding can fluctuate from year to year and from Budget to Budget, and seems in the end to depend to an extent upon the enthusiasm of the government or Minister of the day. There was a long period following its establishment during which the fund was not added to at all, and since then it has been up and down over the years. This is unsatisfactory.
We have recently done some research and it seems to us that taking the fluctuations of funding from a starting point two decades ago – which gives a fair statistical picture – and taking account of the movement in the CPI and the growth in numbers registered with fund, that the current book rate should be significantly higher. In some other countries (Norway is a good example) there is a baseline formula negotiated with the organisations representing writers within a framework set by legislation, and the application of its criteria is the subject of periodic reviews. Does your party have a policy or view on the question of funding the PLR?
Greens
We support the Society’s call for fair increases to the Public Lending Right for authors and Green MP Catherine Delahunty has written to the Minister, Nathan Guy, to ask that he do this. He refused.
Labour
You have concerns about the manner in which the funding of the PLR is set and you point out issues such as fluctuations based upon the enthusiasm of the government of the day. You suggest that if movement in the CPI is taken into account, then the current book rate should be significantly higher. Labour believes that cuts to the already low amount of funding available to non-fiction writers, and the place of non-fiction writing in New Zealand, are issues that need to be addressed.
National
As you know, I was personally in favour of the establishment of the public lending right over a decade ago, and I commissioned the McLay Report while I was still chair of the Arts Board. If you read the Hansard on the Public Lending Right Bill you will see how supportive I was in 2008. I understand that there have been some changes to the funding model. This is, strictly speaking, the responsibility of the Minister of Internal Affairs, Hon Nathan Guy, and I suggest you speak to him in the first instance.
New Zealand First
Norway has an enlightened population and NZ First believes their solution worthy of adoption
United Future
United Future has always supported the concept of the Public Lending Right in principle, although we have not been specific about details. It seems to me that this is an area where principle and practice sometimes diverge. I can see merit in reviewing the current formula as you suggest, and ensuring that it is regularly reviewed in future.
We have expressed our concerns previously in relation to this recent administrative incorporation. We know that this is a matter of the implementation of a broader government policy and we understand the reasons for it (but do not endorse them in this instance). It seems to us that the financial advantages which might accrue from it are nugatory, and that it comes at the wrong moment when the electronic data-basing of our literature (both contemporary and historically) needs a strong and independent voice at the most senior administrative and government levels. This re-incorporation seems to take us back twenty years and we want to register with you our concern about this. Does your party have any comment they would like to make on our concerns?
Greens
The Green Party shares the New Zealand Society of Authors concerns about the absorption of the National Library and Archives into Internal Affairs. We think that the National Library and Archives need to be separate and independent bodies that can objectively record and archive our cultural history for our children and grandchildren.
Labour
Labour believes the Government has wound back the clock by putting Archives New Zealand and the National Library under the control the Department of Internal Affairs, after extensive work was done to separate them only a decade ago. Archives New Zealand has an important role of ensuring transparency in the activities of government requires statutory independence, that independence is limited if it becomes part of the Department of Internal Affairs. The Chief Archivist needs to be in the position to enforce the law that requires other government agencies to keep and deposit their records. That will be compromised with a re-merger into Internal Affairs. When the National Library was administered by Internal Affairs and the Ministry of Education it struggled to have a voice.
The separation allowed protection for the iconic Alexander Turnbull Library, and a place for library users to have a role in its management. None of this can be guaranteed now that the National government has re-merged Archives New Zealand and the National Library into the Department of Internal Affairs. Labour will review the effectiveness of the merger of Archives into DIA.
National
With respect, I think you have the wrong end of the stick. The administrative arrangements will not impact on the independence of the National Library and the important work it does. I am afraid we will have to agree to disagree on these reforms.
New Zealand First
The recent administrative incorporation results from attempted cost cutting objectives and are philistine
United Future
United Future supported the ‘administrative’ incorporation of the National Library back into the Department of Internal Affairs, although I was concerned at any possible reduction in autonomy of the National Library. I spoke with a number of stakeholders both before and after the passage of the legislation and I will be watching the situation with interest.
As you will be aware New Zealand has been selected as the Country of Honour for 2012. This is a very significant honour and will greatly enhance the profile of New Zealand literature and writers and of our country in general. We strongly support it. Can you assure us that if your party is part of a government after the election that current government endorsement and support for New Zealand’s participation and the primary role of writers in the initiative will continue?
Greens
The Green Party will be happy to support our writers at the Frankfurt book fair if we are in a position to after the election. Show casing our authors and generating interest in our stories overseas is important for us.
Labour
We agree that New Zealand’s selection as the Country of Honour for 2012 is a very significant honour that will greatly enhance the profile of New Zealand literature and our writers. Labour would support the promotion of New Zealand authors internationally through such an event. We believe this should be a nonpartisan debate.
National
I am pleased you strongly support this initiative. So do I. you have my assurance that the Society of Authors will be playing an important role in the period leading up to the Frankfurt Book Fair, which I regard as one of the most important initiatives of my time as Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage.
New Zealand First
NZ First supports the Country of Honour endorsement. That said the changes we suggest would make the selection more meritorious.
United Future
United Future agrees that New Zealand’s selection as the Country of Honour at the 2012 Frankfurt Book Fair is a considerable honour and a huge opportunity to enhance the profile of New Zealand literature. We would be happy to support this opportunity at a Government level if we are in a position to do so after the General Election.
Politicians response to The NZ Society of Authors 2011 [pdf 103.17kb]