Hon CARMEL SEPULONI (Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage): Last week, I had the pleasure of announcing the extension of the successful Aotearoa Touring Programme at the Pacific Music Awards 2022. The programme has been extended until June 2023 and sees an additional investment of $1.5 million. Extending the programme assists the ongoing recovery of domestic music touring and supports the thriving hospitality sector. The programme has a focus on tours that reach beyond the main cities into the regions so that all New Zealanders can experience the magic of live performance. The impacts of COVID-19 were felt particularly hard in Aotearoa's live music scene and, with the Government's backing, our home-grown musicians can continue their road to recovery.