Culture is increasingly contributing to New Zealand's economy, according to a survey by the Ministry for Culture and Heritage.
The report, "Cultural Indicators Report for New Zealand 2009", was released yesterday.
It also showed culture topped both sport and the economy in importance to New Zealand's sense of national identity.
The report's authors said the survey "allows a degree of cautious optimism about New Zealanders' involvement with cultural activity".
People believed culture was more important to our sense of national identity than either sport or the economy, said Ministry for Culture and Heritage chief executive Lewis Holden.
Three-quarters of those surveyed thought culture and cultural activities were very, extremely or critically important to our sense of national identity.
"The arts and cultural sector is a significant part of the workforce with more than 126,000 people now employed in the cultural workforce," said Mr Holden.
The percentage of people employed in cultural occupations has increased from 6 per cent in the 2006 report to almost 7 per cent in the 2009 report.
The study also found:
- Median incomes for those in creative occupations ($36,800) remain slightly above the national median for all occupations ($33,700).
- New Zealand households spent $2.84 billion on cultural items in 2006-07, a slight decline from 2003-04.
- Hours of local content on television have increased substantially in the past five years, though this is the result of additional new channels being available, and the proportion (26 per cent) is the same as five years ago.
- NZPA
