People working in theatre and live music subsidise New Zealanders’ participation in and enjoyment of the performing arts.
Of the 10,500 people working in theatre and live music in 2022, only around 1,500 people earned more than $30,000 a year. Half of the workforce earned less than $17,000 a year. This is well short of the national median of $62,000. Yet, despite these incredibly low levels of income, the shows still go on.
This WDP is the result of engagement with over a hundred people working in theatre and live music and the topics and themes reflect the concerns of those people. It isn’t a complete coverage of the sector, but a snapshot in time. The voices and the understandings gained in this process inform our recommendations. The research is combined with data to produce insights into the changes needed to ensure a thriving workforce and productive industry.