Creative New Zealand is the main arts development organisation in New Zealand. Under the Arts Council of New Zealand Toi Aotearoa Act 1994, the organisation has a broad mandate. The arts are defined as spanning "all forms of creative and interpretative expression", ranging from the grassroots to the professional and institutional. Creative New Zealand's tangata whenua policy affirms the special place of Maori arts and culture. The organisation also recognises the importance of the Pacific arts and an increasingly diverse range of cultures in New Zealand.
Creative New Zealand has ensured a New Zealand presence at the Australian Performing Arts Market since 1996. Spotlight performances are being included, for the second time, through the support of the Arts Board. This year, the three companies presenting work in the Spotlight programme are: Black Grace Dance Company, From Scratch and Taki Rua Productions.

The Creative New Zealand delegation, as listed below, is from the Arts Development Unit of Creative New Zealand. It includes three arts advisers and the Arts Development Manager, Cath Robinson, who formerly worked in Australia for many years in arts policy development, management and theatre practice.

Arts development work involves strengthening the professional arts infrastructure; supporting individual artists to create, market and distribute their work; developing audiences and markets for the arts; and supporting opportunities for international experience and exposure for New Zealand arts and artists.

International delegates are encouraged to visit the Creative New Zealand booth where they can view information and material on the New Zealand performing arts. This includes videos, CDs, press kits and the publication, "Going Global: Performing Arts from Aotearoa New Zealand 2002", which highlights a wide range of 'tour-ready' work.

www.creativenz.govt.nz