Annual Report 2025

Cover images

Te hanga i runga i ngā taonga tuku iho o te 30 tau | Building on the legacy of 30 years 2025
Disabled activist and former Arts Access Aotearoa trustee Erin Gough with Lyn Cotton, Artistic Director of Jolt, at the high tea event in Government House, celebrating 30 years of Arts Access Aotearoa.
Photo: Mark Tantrum Photography

Design support: Thanks to Craig Christensen and Graphic Solutions.

Chair and Executive Director’s report on 2025

Arts Access Aotearoa was built on the belief that access to the arts is a basic human right – a belief that’s remained steadfast over 30 years. In that time, we have led the national conversation about arts accessibility, equity and inclusion. 
In July, we marked Arts Access Aotearoa’s 30th anniversary with a celebration high tea at Government House in Wellington, hosted by our Patron, Her Excellency, The Right Honourable Dame Cindy Kiro, GNZM, QSO, Governor-General of New Zealand.
This 30-year milestone was an opportunity for the organisation to reflect on what drives this work forward: the communities we work with, our collective advocacy and the daily commitment to making meaningful change.
Access to the arts and creativity is about equity, opportunity, dignity and connection. Over 30 years, we’ve seen countless examples of the arts transforming lives – in prisons, communities, theatres, museums, libraries and art galleries.
Our focus now is to build on that legacy and ensure every person in Aotearoa has access to the arts as artists, writers, arts practitioners and audience members.
You can read the full report in the Annual Report 2025. It includes the narrative, Te hanga i runga i ngā taonga tuku iho o te 30 tau 2025 and Te Arotake Performance Review 2025.

You can read the report in Ngā turanga mo ngā ra kei te heke mai Foundations for the future 2024. The Annual report 2024 includes Ngā turanga mo ngā ra kei te heke mai 2024 and Te Arotake Performance review 2024.