New Zealand government funding agency NZ On Air has announced funding for a slate of new youth-targeted projects that will debut on digital-first platforms.
The body said the new shows reflect its desire to find innovative ways to engage with young audiences. NZ On Air chief executive Cameron Harland commented: “Our research and experience points towards content that young people can engage with on multiple platforms. This strategy gives tamariki (children) and rangatahi (youth) a better chance of discovering local stories they can relate to and enjoy.”
Among new youth projects funded by NZ On Air is murder mystery series Please Don’t Break Anything – The First Night. The story focuses on finding a killer, after a high school party in rural Aotearoa becomes an evening from hell. The series will play out across YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.
In scripted comedy The School Repeaters, Jay-Jay and his crew face expulsion and must repeat the year after a prank on the final day of term. They join the rugby team and try to lead the school to victory—all while hoping their parents don’t find out. The series will be available across three local platforms as well as social media.
A series for on-demand platform TVNZ + will explore the true tale of the toxic allure of wealth and fame within influencer culture. Bling, Hype & Heartbreak, is “a bold story that speaks to the aspirations and vulnerabilities of a generation raised online”.
A new short-form online video series 60 Seconds will unpack issues facing Aotearoa in just one minute. Targeting young people with bite-sized informative content, 60 seconds will feature on The Spinoff, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.
On the Brink, which will be available on YouTube and TikTok, looks at one of the best mixed martial arts gyms in the world, City Kickboxing, through the gaze of three young stars on the brink of greatness. Having racked up hundreds of thousands of views in its first season, digital-first series The Gender Agenda (pictured) will return, looking to educate, and provide community by platforming LGBTQIA+ perspectives.
For the kids audience, an animated scripted mindfulness show, Be With Zee explores emotions, helping the very young to identify and deal with their feelings in fun and healthy ways. It will screen on TVNZ+ and YouTube Kids. Meanwhile, pre-school music series, Music with Michal returns with a range of content types across YouTube Kids, RNZ, podcasts and livestreams to entertain and help youngsters learn.
For a slightly older primary school audience, The Last Moa, is an animated comedy series blending slapstick with heart. Kiwi finds a frozen egg that hatches into Moa. Pursued by a trapper, Kiwi will do anything to protect Moa, the last of her kind. The series will be available on Sky Open, Sky Go, Neon and YouTube Kids.
All NZ On Air funding commitments are based on the funding applications received and must be contracted within a specified timeframe. Funding is only released, in stages, as contractual commitments are met.
NZ On Air was one of the initial backers of n00b, a fiction series that started life on TikTok before being adapted for TV.
