Response to OIA Ques on Referred by CNZ
Thank you for the opportunity to address these ques ons which have been passed on to Founda on
North by Crea ve New Zealand (CNZ).
1-What has Founda on North put in place to protect the crea ve copyright/IP of the applicants to
this fund?
Al Outreach Advisors and Assessors are required to declare any perceived and/or direct conflicts
they have against al applications received. Assessors also agree to keep confidential al confidential
information provided to them as part of the applications that are received.
This year’s (2023) process wil be the same as last year, except that some external Assessors wil be
contracted by Foundation North.
2-If they have why was it not explicitly men oned to the applicants by Founda on North (that
their copyright/IP will be protected), on their website and by the outreach team contracted to
answer ques ons?
We have not had any issues previously which would have led to men oning these ma ers on our
website.
We wil ensure that in future rounds, the extent of the steps to protect IP are drawn to the a en on
of applicants as part of the process; on the website or in guidance documenta on or both. We wil
seek advice on best prac ce for what protec ons should be provided and how best to communicate
the scope of protec on.
3-What process was put in place to ensure the outreach team and the assessors respect the
copyright/IP of the applicants?
As explained above in relation to question 1, Outreach Advisor contacts have conflict of interest
clauses and Assessor contracts have confidentiality clauses model ed on guidance from Creative New
Zealand.
For both groups, the importance of confidentiality was, and wil be, stressed in briefing meetings.
4-Did the outreach team read all the applica ons and did they sit at the decision-making table?
No. Outreach Advisors do not get access to any application, nor are they part of the
recommendation meeting; their core support is during the pre-application stage to those that
request it, or from their outreach. Applicants are not required to use Outreach Advisors.
5-What process was put in place to manage conflict of interest of the outreach team with any
applica ons/applicants?
As explained in relation to questions 1 and 3, Outreach Advisors are required to sign contracts
including conflict of interest clauses. We therefore require them to treat information they receive
confidential y and expect them to treat that information in a manner they would wish their own
confidential information to be treated.
6-What has Founda on North done to inform and educate the applicants, the outreach team and
the assessors about crea ve copyright and IP to ensure openness and transparency in the funding
process?
Founda on North’s role is to distribute grant monies to applicants who demonstrate they have met
or exceeded the criteria set for their gran ng programmes. We do not regard ourselves as being
experts in copyright and IP ma ers; and since this ma er arose, we have relied on external advice to
respond to it. Accordingly, we do not believe we are best placed to educate programme par cipants
in copyright and IP.
We wil seek advice on whether training of this sort is desirable for future funding rounds or what
resources are available and can be provided to help applicants, the Outreach Team and Assessors.
