05/09/2026
We're very proud and happy to support NYT's very own Rory Nielsen as he writes and records his first (and surely not last) radio play!
Over the past few months, Rory has been writing, researching, seeking feedback, casting, finding sound effects and more - and recently was a recipient of the Creative Communities Scheme, making him the youngest person ever to receive this fund from Whangārei District Council.
We were very happy to support this project alongside Stuart Devenie, ONEONESIX, Te Kamo Intermediate and Whangārei District Council.
The Creative Communities Scheme, funded by Creative New Zealand, is open for applications until 30 September 2026. Start here:
✨ https://www.wdc.govt.nz/Community/Community-funding/Creative-Communities-Scheme
From the first round of 2026, eight community arts projects will share more than $34,000 in Creative Communities Scheme funding. There are three rounds per year, with the second round open now.
The funding round attracted 18 applications requesting more than $80,000, reflecting the significant demand for arts funding in Whangārei.
👹 Among the largest recipients was the Little Lost Art Festival, which received $5,584 to deliver a programme of hidden installations, pop-up performances and accessible arts experiences across Whangārei in October.
Designed as the ‘little sister’ to the Whangārei Fringe Festival, the Little Lost Art Festival aims to make art more visible and accessible in everyday community spaces.
📹 The committee also supported a film project with $5,000, providing training and professional experience for young actors and an emerging filmmaker while producing a short film exploring bullying, social inclusion, empathy and youth wellbeing.
📻 A standout project in this funding round is Beneath My Skin: Radio Drama Workshops, led by Rory Nielsen, which received $1,793. The project will give young people aged 11 to 18 the opportunity to produce, voice-act and engineer an original radio drama written by a local young playwright.
Remarkably, Rory is believed to be the youngest applicant ever to apply to the Whangārei District Creative Communities Scheme at just 12 years old, making his successful application an inspiring example of youth leadership and creativity in the District.
Pictured 📷: Rory Nielsen (12) with Kelly Gilbride, Stuart Devenie and Jesse Samu, who are some of the creative minds working on these radio plays.
🌺 The funding round also recognised the importance of cultural heritage through support for Lei Alofa – Necklaces of Love, awarded $4,000. Led by Sharna McKenzie, the project brings together around 120 Pacific community members and families to revive and share the traditional art of lei-making, a cultural practice that has become increasingly difficult to maintain following migration to New Zealand.
