About us | Council and boards | Arts Council
Role
The Arts Council sets the policy and strategic direction of Creative New Zealand and undertakes initiatives.
Members
Members of the Arts Council are appointed by the Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage for a term of up to three years. Anyone can nominate a person to be considered for appointment to the Arts Council.
Alastair Carruthers (Chair) is the Chief Executive of the national law firm Chapman Tripp, and divides his working time between Wellington and Auckland. He is skilled in strategic planning and implementation, business development, public relations (including arts sponsorships), human resources, technology, knowledge management and organisational learning. He originally trained as a classical musician, playing the piano and flute, and is a former trustee of the New Zealand String Quartet.
Alick Shaw is a former board chair of Wellington Sinfonia (now Vector Wellington Orchestra), Wellington City Council's Arts and Culture Committee, and trustee of the Embassy Theatre Trust and Wellington Museums Trust. He currently serves as Chair of the New Zealand School of Music, and is a board member of the Wellington Health Foundation and Wellington Community Foundation. He is committed to developing funding partnerships between Creative New Zealand, local government and funding agencies.
Oscar Kightley is a Samoan-born writer, director and actor based in Auckland. In the early 1990s, he helped establish Christchurch theatre education company Pacific Underground, where he co-write his first play Fresh off the Boat. He is a member of the Naked Samoans comedy group and co-write the television series bro'Town. He also co-wrote and acted in the New Zealand film Sione's Wedding. In 2006, he received an inaugural Arts Foundation of New Zealand Award for Patronage discretionary donation from Denis and Verna Adam.
Jenny May is a heritage consultant who studied art and architectural history at Canterbury University. She has a wide involvement in arts, culture and heritage and is on a number of boards and trusts. She has served two terms on the board of Te Papa Tongarewa, chaired the Te Papa National Services Advisory Group, is a trustee of the Christchurch Symphony Foundation and is the immediate past chair of The Arts Centre of Christchurch Trust Board.
Dr James Ng has a long association with the New Zealand Chinese community and was the Chair of China Week during Otago's 150th Anniversary Commemorations. He has written a number of publications about New Zealand's Chinese history, including a four-volume book called Windows on the Chinese Past. He is a past president of the Dunedin Public Art Gallery, and is involved with the Otago Settlers' Museum and Otago Museum on heritage matters.
Dr Jenny Plane Te Paa (Te Rarawa) is Ahorangi or Principal at the College of St John the Evangelist in Auckland. An experienced academic and educational administrator, her specialist areas are Race Politics and Theological Education. She has governance experience on the New Zealand Lottery Youth Committee and the Auckland District Parole Board. She was invited as specialist bicultural advisor to join the first International Peer Review Panel for Te Papa Tongarewa and has been a trustee on the Aotea Centre Performing Arts Trust. She has maintained a lifetime interest in visual arts, classical music and opera.
Erima Henare (Te Aupouri, Ngāti Kahu, Te Rarawa, Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Whatua, Tainui, Te Atiawa, Rongowhakaata, Te Aitanga ā Mahaki and Tuwharetoa) has had a long association with the public service having served in senior roles in The Department of Māori Affairs and The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as Deputy General Manager of the Iwi Transition Agency, and as Chief Executive Officer of the Māori Language Commission. He is currently a consultant to many organisations on strategic Maori development. As well as chairing the Māori Language Commission as the Māori Language Commissioner, Erima sits on many local, regional and national boards, committees and organisations. He is also a Personal Advisor to the Māori King.
