9. Budget 2017—Vote Arts Culture and HeritageMAUREEN PUGH (National) to the Minister for Arts Culture and HeritageBudget 2017—Vote Arts Culture and Heritage9. MAUREEN PUGH (National) to the Minister for Arts Culture and Heritage: What support does Budget 2017 provide for New Zealand's arts culture and heritage?Hon MAGGIE BARRY (Minister for Arts Culture and Heritage): We allocated a total of $21.2 million of new funding including an $11.4 million investment into Radio New Zealand $4.8 million for the ongoing development of Pukeahu National War Memorial Park $5 million in additional funding for the 2019 First Encounters 250 and—along with my colleague the Hon Simon Bridges—$305 million was allocated to support the New Zealand film industry both globally and domestically. This is the fund that has supported 50 international productions and 23 New Zealand productions in the past 3 years. Maureen Pugh: What will an $11.4 million funding boost over the next 4 years mean for Radio New Zealand? Hon MAGGIE BARRY: Building on the work of my predecessor the Hon Amy Adams the 8 percent increase in Radio New Zealand's base funding will assist it to buy new modern technology and improved capability and to expand regional coverage supporting the great advances it has made towards becoming a multimedia source of quality news and a trusted public service broadcaster in times of emergencies such as the Kaikōura earthquake. Jacinda Ardern: Can she confirm that despite telling the Save the St James group in December 2015 that she was looking into avenues to support its restoration 18 months later she has not only failed to follow through—she instead denied its application for support—but still had the audacity to have a photo op with a building that is facing ruin on her watch? Hon MAGGIE BARRY: Oh when we talk about audacity that member takes the biscuit having been heard of not at all over a long period of time. I acknowledge the heritage significance of the St James Theatre as a category 1 building and along with the local member of Parliament for Auckland Central the Hon Nikki Kaye I am engaged actively with my officials and with those associated with the St James in a real sense for the provision of services to that wonderful theatre. That member has done absolutely nothing at all for the St James. Maureen Pugh: How will an additional investment enable the ongoing development of Pukeahu National War Memorial Park?Hon MAGGIE BARRY: Since its opening in April 2015 the park has been embraced by New Zealanders and has established itself as a place for remembrance and commemoration not only here but internationally attracting more than 122000 visitors and 20000 schoolchildren. The new funding will mean the park can continue to provide its highly successful education programme at the Queen Elizabeth II Pukeahu Education Centre. It will also assist with the installation and upkeep of the memorials. We will also be unveiling British Belgian French and American memorials. They are in the pipeline and will be installed by next Anzac Day. I absolutely thank and congratulate my predecessor the Hon Chris Finlayson on the heavy lifting he did on the park and on Arras Tunnel. It has been a triumph.