Government to develop arts and wellbeing strategy 

Hon Carmel Sepuloni has asked officials from the Ministry for Arts, Culture and Heritage and the Office for Disability Issues to work on developing an Arts and Wellbeing Strategy, with work due to commence this year. The Minister has said that officials will stay in touch with Te Ora Auaha throughout the process. 

Professor Peter O’Connor of the University of Auckland says that the announcement is an important practical acknowledgment by government of the interrelationship between the arts and wellbeing. He suggests perhaps the most important part of strategy development is the funding implementation plan that it creates within government.  Professor O’Connor hopes that a wider consultation across government beyond MCH and Disability might include at a minimum the Ministries of Health, Education and Youth Affairs who play crucial roles in arts, health and wellbeing, often without realising they do.