Government Expenditure on Recreation, Culture & Religion

IBISWorld forecasts government expenditure on recreation, culture and religion to decrease by 0.3% in 2023-24 to $3,710.4 million. The slight decrease can be attributed to shifting priorities, economic pressures and policy changes. As the government potentially redirects resources towards urgent areas like healthcare, social welfare and infrastructure because of competing priorities, budgets for less immediate sectors like recreational activities, cultural projects and religious institutions might see reductions. However, the New Zealand Government (Te Kawanatanga o Aotearoa) provided additional support mechanisms to recreational, cultural and religious services after these sectors were identified as some of the worst affected by the pandemic. For example, $25.0 million was allocated to the Arts Council of New Zealand Toi Aotearoa (Creative New Zealand), while Nga Taonga Sound & Vision received $31.8 million.

Funding for recreation, culture and religion competes with nine other categories for total government expenditure. These categories are general public services, defence, public order and safety, economic affairs, environmental protection, housing and community amenities, health, education and social protection. Funding for recreation, culture and religion is typically minor compared with other categories, commanding approximately 1.91% of overall government expenditure. This portion has declined over the past five years.