Coddington Deborah: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members Questions to Ministers 
Coddington Deborah: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:618;Page:14461] 
2.  
DEBORAH CODDINGTON (ACT) 
 to the  
Associate Minister for Arts Culture and Heritage 
: Did she receive an assurance at a meeting in February or the two meetings since February from Creative New Zealand that the selection criteria for the artist to represent New Zealand at the Venice Biennale 2005 had been followed correctly; if not why did she not seek that assurance? 
Hon JUDITH TIZARD (Associate Minister for Arts Culture and Heritage) 
: 
 The meeting in February was well before the selection was made and there was no reason to question the process at that time. At the third meeting on 2 July I did raise with Creative New Zealand concerns about the ability of the artist selected to be an effective ambassador for New Zealand. I was advised that the three people involved in the et al proposal met Creative New Zealand’s criteria. I have subsequently sought and been given assurances that the artist will engage extensively with international arts professionals at the event conduct selected interviews with international arts media and provide considered responses in writing to questions. 
Deborah Coddington 
: In light of that answer has the Minister had a response to her criticism of Creative New Zealand made on 14 July that funding this artist who refused to be identified was “arrogant and elitist” in her words; if not can she tell the House exactly what she does as Associate Minister for Arts Culture and Heritage? 
Hon JUDITH TIZARD 
: In relation to the  
Dominion Post  
report of that date the reporter asked me whether I thought funding this artist was elitist and arrogant. I said that was a charge that Creative New Zealand would have to answer and that I thought—given that the Venice Biennale is considered the arts Olympics—we would be a bit astonished if elite and sometimes arrogant sportspeople were not selected for the Olympics. I do think this is a matter for Creative New Zealand to answer and I believe that it has answered it very satisfactorily. If the House would give me leave to speak for about an hour and a half I will tell members what I do as Associate Minister for Arts Culture and Heritage. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Leave has been already denied. 
Dianne Yates 
: Does the Government support opportunities for New Zealand to be represented at major international events? 
Hon JUDITH TIZARD 
: Yes indeed. The Venice Biennale which is often described as the Olympic Games of the visual arts is an example of a major international event at which New Zealand will be represented. Leading arts experts selected et al to represent New Zealand at this international event. The Government does not interfere with selections of this sort any more than it would interfere with Olympic selections—we do not want to take New Zealand down the path of Soviet Russia. The Government recognises that participation in international events results in better international understanding of what New Zealand has to offer and may result in increased tourism exports and employment in New Zealand. 
Hon Georgina te Heuheu 
: When the Minister was advised at the end of June or early July by Creative New Zealand that “a shifting group of artistic entities” called et al would be the representative artist at the Venice Biennale did she then ask Creative New Zealand to account for its decision in any detail; if not why did she wait to do so until there was a public outcry? 
Hon JUDITH TIZARD 
: No I was in ongoing discussions with Creative New Zealand which is after all an independent Crown entity under the Arts Council of New Zealand Toi Aotearoa Act of 1994. A shifting entity of artists is a bit like the leadership of the National Party—we do not question it. 
Peter Brown 
: Does the Minister share the view that it is only reasonable and proper that anybody who receives a significant amount of Government funding should be at least identified so that the public know who is receiving their money? 
Hon JUDITH TIZARD 
: Everyone is accountable for any Government money. Creative New Zealand is proposing to spend $500000 a large proportion of which will be for rent of the venue for the 6 months of this show in Venice. It will pay for events that will publicise the show. The artist will get a very small amount. There are three people involved: the curator Greg Burke who is from the Govett-Brewster Art Gallery; a senior curator from Te Papa; and the artist. I am very satisfied that Creative New Zealand has in place good accountability processes for this public money. 
Heather Roy 
: Why does the Minister expect that junked computer hardware and scrawled messages will promote New Zealand art at Venice when she has already said that a port-a-loo that brays like a donkey will not? 
Hon JUDITH TIZARD 
: The components of any art exhibition are up to the artist. This Government does not dictate what artists should think what they should say or what materials they should use. This artist has been chosen by an eminent group of New Zealand fine arts specialists as the most appropriate artist to represent New Zealand at this important international event. I am very satisfied that whatever the components I would rather that the artists chose materials that were appropriate to the installation art piece rather than my trying to dictate to them. I just think the question is silly. 
Hon Brian Donnelly 
: Would it not be better rather than our spending half a million dollars on an as yet uncreated piece of avant-garde art to be experienced by a small number of overseas aficionados to spend that money on enabling New Zealanders in rural and provincial areas to have greater access to first-hand experience of New Zealand art collections through enhancement of provincial facilities? 
Hon JUDITH TIZARD 
: This Government is spending $7.5 million a year on building and supporting regional art and museum installations. We are the first Government in New Zealand history to have done that and I am very proud of it. I am very satisfied that we also need to take New Zealand art internationally just as we take New Zealand film New Zealand wine and other New Zealand products. 
Deborah Coddington 
: Does she think as the Associate Minister for Arts Culture and Heritage that spending $500000 of taxpayers’ money on a braying port-a-loo or junked computer hardware or whatever it turns out to be is the best spending of our money on international art; if not when will she make up her mind and take some responsibility for her portfolio? 
Hon JUDITH TIZARD 
: I take very seriously my responsibility for my portfolio but my responsibility is not to dictate to New Zealanders what they should think draw paint or create. 
Deborah Coddington 
: What is worse: a taxpayer-funded artist who will not front up to the public assumes a number of names but did create the work; or a taxpayer-funded artist who does front up to the public takes the credit but did not paint the painting itself? 
Hon JUDITH TIZARD 
: I think the worst thing is astonishingly stupid populist-seeking by a member of Parliament in a failing party who appears to be pursuing a vendetta against her ex-husband. [ 
Interruption 
] 
Mr SPEAKER 
: There was a personal reference made there. I want the member to stand withdraw and apologise for it. 
Hon JUDITH TIZARD 
: I withdraw and apologise. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: I have to say I found the answer very difficult to hear. I am glad my attention was called to it because there was far too much noise during it.