New data shows New Zealand’s arts and creative sector continues to make a strong contribution to the economy, adding $17.5 billion or 4.2 percent to the country’s GDP.

The figures, released by the Ministry for Culture and Heritage, cover the year ending March 2024 and confirm the sector’s steady economic impact.

Secretary for Culture and Heritage Leauanae Laulu Mac Leauanae said the sector plays a significant role in the lives of all New Zealanders.

“It’s great to be able to measure economic impacts as part of our wider insights programme,” Leauanae said.

While the overall GDP contribution remained steady compared to the previous year, there was a slight increase in both employment and the number of businesses operating within the sector.

The ministry worked with Infometrics to compile the data, which also included a breakdown of the heritage sector’s contribution for the first time.

The heritage sector alone contributed $5.1 billion to GDP and employs just under 36,000 people.

Leauanae said the data provides valuable insights into how the arts and cultural sectors are performing against the rest of the economy.

According to the figures, the arts sector’s GDP contribution grew by 2.5 percent from the previous year, outpacing the total economy’s growth of 1.4 percent.

However, the data also reflected ongoing challenges in the media sector, which recorded negative GDP growth of -1.9 percent and a -0.9 percent drop in employment.

Overall, there was a slight -0.3 percent decrease in GDP across the arts and creative sector.

Currently, 117,912 people are employed in the wider arts and creative sector, with projections showing nearly 8,700 new jobs are expected to be created by 2030.