Jul 28, 2023
As members of IRMTNZ we have the utmost respect and gratitude for the music education provided by our tertiary institutions. Many of us hold music degrees from Aotearoa New Zealand universities and some of us teach at these venerable institutions. We send our most promising students to our universities, and at the end of their tertiary studies, these bright young stars establish successful careers in music and so continue the cycle of regeneration.
The standard and breadth of education our tertiary music courses provide means that those alumni who choose to pursue further study or establish careers overseas are well-equipped to represent us in the international arena.
Music plays an essential role in the health and wellbeing of any society, and the cultural life of Aotearoa New Zealand is enriched by the musicians that graduate from our tertiary music courses each year.
The gradual erosion of funding for our tertiary music education sector is a serious threat to the future of music education and its benefits in Aotearoa New Zealand and beyond. Most recently we’ve been told to expect significant cuts to the Te Kōkī New Zealand School of Music staffing and programmes.
If you would like to join the chorus of individuals and organisations that are protesting these cuts, please express your concern in writing to Carmel Sepuloni, Minister for the Arts, at and/or Jan Tinetti, Minister for Education, at and/or your local MP.
Here is a letter template you might like to use. Please remember to identify yourself as a member of IRMTNZ and use your chosen Member Logo in your signature (found in the Members Only area of our website).
As a member of the Institute of Registered Music Teachers of New Zealand (IRMTNZ) I am alarmed to hear of proposed funding cuts at New Zealand School of Music – Te Kōkī (NZSM).
Music is vital to our equilibrium as individuals and a society, and the quality music education provided by Te Kōkī NZSM ensures our musical experiences match international standards. Music education is an expensive venture as is anything worth aspiring to, but the outcomes far outweigh the costs. We see this in the many ex-students of Te Kōkī NZSM who have built successful careers in music, and the thousands more who enjoy their performances, composition and technological skills.
I strongly urge those in authority to build, not reduce, the staffing and also the programme at Te Kōkī NZSM, to ensure our young musicians continue to thrive and contribute to the cultural enrichment of Aotearoa New Zealand.