Hon CARMEL SEPULONI (Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage): Yesterday, I announced $18 million to support creative spaces. Creative spaces are places in the community where people with mental health needs, disabled people, and those looking for social connection are welcomed and supported to practise and participate in the arts. These spaces often provide also an environment where cultural practices can be shared and learnt, enhancing that cultural connectedness. This funding will not only ensure that spaces are inclusive but it will engage people who are all too often at risk of being excluded from accessing meaningful opportunities. It will also enable creative spaces to increase their reach, including further to Māori and Pacific communities. 