政府将每年向 Rockquest Promotions 组织的各类活动增加 5万纽币 的年度资助，以应对相关活动成本上升的问题。新西兰教育部长 Erica Stanford 今日宣布了这一决定。

她表示，这项调整使相关项目的年度总资助达到 176.5万纽币，用于支持包括以下项目在内的多项活动：

• Smokefree Rockquest
• Smokefree Tangata Beats
• Bandquest
• Showquest
• OnScreen
• Stills
• TOI（服装与可穿戴艺术项目）

她指出，这些活动为年轻人提供了展示创意才华的平台，并帮助他们思考是否将表演艺术作为未来职业方向。

她表示，过去包括 Kimbra、Marlon Williams 和 Bic Runga 等艺术家都曾参加 Smokefree Rockquest，而 Lorde 曾参加 Bandquest，如今都已成为国际知名表演艺术家。

她补充说，去年共有约 15,000 名学生 参与这些活动，内容涵盖现场音乐、舞蹈、戏剧、数字媒体与视觉艺术，其中许多学生首次创作了原创作品。

此次资金调整是政府更大范围教育与文化投入计划的一部分，其中包括：

• 向公立及公立整合学校（state and state-integrated schools）以及 kura（毛利学校）提供 560万纽币 用于乐器采购
• 为 0–8 年级学生提供音乐器材支持
• 向新西兰合唱联合会（New Zealand Choral Federation）与 Aotearoa 新西兰合唱团体组织（Choirs Aotearoa New Zealand）提供 30万纽币一次性拨款（各15万纽币），用于支持如 “The Big Sing” 等年度活动制作

符合条件的学校与 kura 将根据学生人数获得音乐工具包与 taonga pūoro（毛利传统乐器）工具包，并可根据自身情况选择适合的资源，以补充现有音乐教学与课程内容。

Stanford 表示：

“音乐能够为学习打下坚实基础，增强自信，并在课堂内外创造新的机会。”

她回忆自己小时候曾学习吹竖笛，并表示希望每一位学生都有机会学习音乐、乐器或歌唱。

她补充说：

“音乐是一种让年轻人保持学习参与度的绝佳方式。”

The Government has increased annual funding for events delivered by Rockquest Promotions by $50,000 per year, acknowledging the rising costs for these events, Education Minister Erica Stanford announced today.

“This brings the annual funding to $1.765 million to support programmes such as Smokefree Rockquest, Smokefree Tangata Beats, Bandquest, Showquest, OnScreen, Stills, and TOI (Wearable Arts). 

“These events are amazing for young people to showcase their creative talents and think about whether a career as a performer is for them.

“In the past artists such as Kimbra, Marlon Willliams, and Bic Runga have competed in the Smokefree Rockquest, with Lorde competing in Bandquest. All have gone onto to have amazing careers as performers.

“Last year, 15,000 students participated performing live music, dance and drama to digital media and visual arts, with many students creating original work for the first time.

“Today’s announcement is part of a package of funding that has included $5.6 million to provide musical instruments to state and state-integrated schools and kura with students in Years 0–8. 

Additionally, $300,000 has been provided to the New Zealand Choral Federation and Choirs Aotearoa New Zealand. Each will receive a one-off grant of $150,000 to support the production of their annual events, such as the Big Sing. 

Eligible schools and kura will receive music kits and taonga pūoro kits based on their roll size. Schools and kura will have a choice of kit that allows them to complement existing music resources and curriculum coverage.

“Music builds strong foundations for learning, confidence, and can lead to new opportunities both within and outside the classroom. 

Ms Stanford who learned to play the recorder at school said she wanted every student to have the ability to learn music, performance, instruments or singing. 

“It’s a fantastic way to keep young people engaged in education.”