PANZ has received support from Manatū Taonga Ministry for Culture & Heritage to fund publishers to produce and distribute audiobooks. We are running three rounds of funding and you can find all the details below.
Includes is an overview of the eligibility for funding, criteria and priority areas for specific books and outlines the additional information you need to submit a strong application.
Please read this page alongside A Guide to Audiobook Production in Aotearoa which has been prepared to help and support publishers produce their own audio titles. You can download a copy of the report here or contact Katherine Shanks – Katherine@publishers.org.nz.
PANZ acknowledges support from the Manatū Taonga Regeneration Fund for this initiative.
Funding Rounds
ALL ROUNDS NOW CLOSED
Audiobook Funding Round 1 Results
Congratulations to the successful recipients of the first round of Audiobook Funding. PANZ was thrilled to be able to offer grants to 5 publishers for a total of 14 audio books that include a range of books by Māori writers, a wide array of fiction and non-fiction titles and strong local classics. The successful recipients are:
- Allen & Unwin Pty: $16,323 towards the production costs of five audiobooks
- Bateman Books: $9,153 towards the production costs of two audiobooks
- Cloud Ink Press: $2762 towards the production cost of one audiobook
- Duckling Press: $1,776 towards the production cost of one audiobook
- Penguin Random House New Zealand: $19,000 towards the production costs of five audiobooks
Audiobook Funding Round 2 Results
Congratulations to the successful applicants of the second round of the Audiobook Funding Programme. We were delighted to see an increase in the number of audiobook titles this round and have been able to support a further 7 of the 8 publishers applying to the programme, across a wide range of genres.
The latest round saw funding offered to an additional 28 titles, bringing the total number of new audiobooks funded to 47 since the fund began. The successful recipients are:
- Culturalhubb: $6,250.00 towards the production costs of five audiobooks
- Dragon Brothers Books: $6120 towards the production costs of three audiobooks
- Flaxroots: $2701 towards the production costs of one audiobook
- HUIA: $17,000 towards the production costs of five audiobooks
- OneTree House: $17,500 towards the production costs of five audiobooks
- Penguin Random House New Zealand: $10,500 towards the production costs of four audiobooks
- HarperCollins Publishers New Zealand: $16,056 towards the production costs of five audiobooks
Audiobook Funding Round 3 Results
Congratulations to the successful recipients of round three.
This round saw the largest number of applicants and titles so far in a wide range of genres key to the funding priorities. A total of 29 audiobooks have been funded from 10 publishers applications.
The successful recipients are:
- Awa Press: $8,710.54 towards the production costs of three audiobooks
- Bateman Books: $8,093 towards the production costs of two audiobooks
- Duckling Press: $1,850 towards the production cost of one audiobook
- Flaxroots: $1,877.38 towards the production cost of one audiobook
- HarperCollins Publishers New Zealand: $17,000 towards the production costs of five audiobooks
- HUIA (NZ) Ltd: $25,000 towards the production costs of five audiobooks
- Koa Press: $3,500 towards the production cost of one audiobook
- Oratia Media: $13,820.50 towards the production costs of three audiobooks
- Te Tākupu, Te Wānanga o Raukawa: $13,000 towards the production costs of three audiobooks
- Illustrated Publishing: $4,992.2 towards the production costs of five audiobooks
Audiobook Funding Round 4 Results
Congratulations to the successful recipients of round four.
This round saw the largest number of applicants and titles so far in a wide range of genres key to the funding priorities. A total of 30 audiobooks have been funded from 9 publishers applications.
The successful recipients are:
- Allen & Unwin: $5,650 towards the production costs of two audiobooks
- Bateman Books: 15,556 towards the production costs of four audiobooks
- Bridget Williams Books: $24,570 towards the production cost of five audiobook
- Flaxroots: $1,150 towards the production cost of one audiobook
- Cloud Ink Publishers: $3,155 towards the production cost of one audiobook
- HarperCollins Publishers New Zealand: $25,000 towards the production costs of five audiobooks
- Massey University Press: $11,215 towards the production costs of five audiobooks
- Upstart Press: $11,725 towards the production cost of four audiobook
- Wickcandle Books: $5,311 towards the production cost of two audiobook
Audiobook Funding Round 5 Results
Congratulations to the successful recipients of round five.
We were delighted to be able to support total of 27 audiobooks from 7 publishers applications in this fifth and final round of Audiobook Funding.
The successful recipients are:
- Auckland University Press: $24,690 towards the production costs of six audiobooks
- Bateman Books: $8,635 towards the production costs of two audiobooks
- Bridget Williams Books: $23,975 towards the production cost of six audiobook
- HarperCollins Publishers NZ: $10,500 towards the production cost of three audiobooks
- Illustrated Publishing: $5237,52 towards the production cost of three audiobooks
- Quentin Wilson Publishin19,192.95 towards the production costs of five audiobooks
- Hachette Aotearoa New Zealand: $6,940.74 towards the production cost of two audiobooks
Project Outcomes
- To support the development of a sustainable and resilient audiobook sector
- To increase commercial opportunities for publishers and writers
- To ensure that a diverse range of readers and listeners have access to New Zealand books in a range of formats
- To promote writers from Aotearoa locally and internationally
PANZ is keen to ensure that this project is as accessible to a range of diverse publishers. If you have any questions at all about the application process, or anything else to do with the project please don’t hesitate to contact Katherine Shanks – Katherine@publishers.org.nz.
Project Scope
- You can apply for funding for up to 5 audiobooks per application and a total of 10 audiobooks across the funding rounds.
- You can apply for funding of up to 50% of the production and distribution costs of each audio book, up to a maximum amount of $5K per audiobook.
- Funding is available to support production and distribution costs but we are unable to support the purchase of recording equipment or contribute to marketing and promotion expenses.
- Retrospective funding for audiobooks already produced is not available.
- Projects which have already received government funding for the audiobook/s for which you’re seeking funding are not eligible. If you have received other government funding for publishing in a different format, e.g. print then you are eligible to apply for the audiobook funding.
- We expect that your audiobook will be produced within six months of you receiving funding.
Eligibility for Applicants
We accept applications from:
- Publishers based in Aotearoa New Zealand seeking funding for an audio book written by a citizen or permanent resident of Aotearoa New Zealand.
- Publishers must demonstrate they are the exclusive legal copyright holders for each audiobook they are requesting funding for.
- Publishers with a proven track record and have published a minimum of 5 books which have been successfully distributed in Aotearoa New Zealand.
- Publishers who can confirm that they will meet the PANZ-advised minimum audio specifications and requirements. See page 25 of A Guide to Audiobook Production in Aotearoa.
If you don’t meet the eligibility requirements but feel that you have a strong track record and can deliver to the project outcomes please get in touch with Katherine Shanks – Katherine@publishers.org.nz to discuss further.
Funding Criteria
We will consider applications for fiction, non-fiction, children’s books and educational titles from publishers that:
- Have published new titles which will also be available in a print and/or ebook format.
- Are seeking funding for books which have already demonstrated proven demand, e.g. books that are strong backlist titles which have sold well in print or are written by an author with a strong online presence.
- Have a strategy which demonstrates a long-term commitment to audiobook production
- Where relevant, provide evidence that books will protect the integrity of te reo Māori language.
- Demonstrate a clear distribution strategy through for example an established platform or a publishers website.
- Include a compelling marketing and publicity strategy which includes strong platform and audience-specific promotion.
- Feature a well articulated budget which include supplier costs, production costs, distribution and promotion.
Priority Titles
Priority will be given to:
- Books which respond to matauranga Māori, are written by Māori authors and are written in, or translated into te reo Māori.
- Books that demonstrate inclusivity and diversity.
- Books in a category known to be successful in audio format, please see the Audiobook Production and Distribution in Aotearoa report for further information on popular audiobook genres.
- Publishers who demonstrate a longterm approach to developing a sustainable audiobook list.
The Assesment Process
PANZ is committed to running a fair and transparent assessment process. The steps are as follows:
- On receipt of your application we will confirm your eligibility and those of the titles you’re seeking funding for.
- Your project will be assessed by a diverse panel of independent assessors with a good understanding of the publishing industry.
- Feedback will be given to unsuccessful applicants and it may be possible for them to resubmit their application following discussion with PANZ staff.
Documents to Submit
You will need to submit the following documents with your application:
- Completed application form.
- Evidence of rights ownership.
- Budget – please refer to budget templates on p.27 – 30 of Audiobook Production and Distribution in Aotearoa New Zealand for guidance on what to include in your budget. A sample budget template can be downloaded here.
- Supplier quotes for audio production and distribution.
- Publicity and marketing plan.
Reporting
If your application is successful you will be required to report on the outcomes of your funding on completion of the audiobook/s and then within one year of publication.
