Creative Media & Arts

New Zealand is home to a wide range of creative media and arts industries that contribute significantly to not only the local but the international market. It’s a huge sector with some really exciting career opportunities!

From film, radio and television to visual and performance arts, literature and publishing to music, theatre production, graphic design, and the games industry. The creative media and arts sector is a highly varied and exciting part of the broader New Zealand workforce.

Career opportunities in this industry span anything from freelance and contract work to traditional employee contracts and long-term organisational roles. You could work in the sector, in a hands-on position within your desired role, or in a teaching and facilitating role, educating others about the industry.

Creative employees can work directly for creative production organisations or they may be what is referred to as ‘embedded’ in other organisations. This is where creative professionals work for non-creative companies but still operate in creative roles. For example, a graphic designer who is employed by a bank to help design their logo and website branding.

There’s lots of potential for growth and opportunity to build a long-term stable career, as the New Zealand government has acknowledged the critical role of the creative media and arts sector for economic sustainability. The industry contributes heavily to the core values of broader New Zealand society, including cultural diversity and social inclusion, education, sustainability, and technological development.

Entry into the sector is as varied as the roles available, so no matter what academic pathway you choose to pursue, there’ll be an opportunity to get started with a career in creative media and arts!

What You Could Do:

Job roles in this industry tend to fall under one of two broader categories:

  • Creative Services
  • Cultural Production

Here’s a few examples of the types of roles you could pursue:
Creative Services Occupations:

  • Advertising and Marketing such as Advertising Assistant, Advertising Coordinator, Marketing Manager, Marketing Coordinator, or Marketing Assistant.
  • Graphic Design, such as Graphic Design, Graphic Illustrator, Animator, Graphic Art Director, or Creative Director.
  • Software and Digital content, such as Web Developer, Web Designer, Software Developer, or Games Animator.

Cultural Production Occupations:

  • Film, television, and radio, such as Producer, Assistant Producer, Runner, Lighting and/or Sound Engineer, Scriptwriter, Director, Radio Host, Actor/Actress, or Programming Manager.
  • Music and performing arts, such as Stage Manager, Sound Engineer, Musician, Singer, Recording Engineer, Mixing Engineer, Label Assistant or Songwriter.
  • Publishing, such as Editor, Editorial Assistant, Publishing Agent, Writer, Book Printer, Children’s Book Illustrator, or Book Cover Designer.
  • Visual arts, such as Performance Artist, Curator, Gallery Assistant, Gallery Manager, or Exhibition Production Assistant.

These job roles are only just scratching the surface. Each segment of the industry will also include administrative or managerial functions that support the sector in vital ways.

Graduate Employment and Gender Split:

While a degree isn’t essential for every pathway in the creative media and arts sector, understanding graduate employment trends can help shape expectations and career planning.

Graduate surveys indicate:

  • Graduates in full-time employment: 45.8%

  • Graduates employed overall: 78.7%

These figures may not fully capture graduates who pursue freelance careers, portfolio work, entrepreneurial ventures, or further study — all of which are common across creative industries.

Figures based on recent graduate survey data.

Gender Representation

Gender balance varies across disciplines and role types. Industry patterns suggest:

  • Males: 60%

  • Females: 40%

There remains a higher concentration of men in certain technical and senior leadership roles, though this is gradually shifting.

Professional organisations and advocacy groups continue to promote greater diversity, inclusion, and equitable access to opportunities across the sector.

Average Salary:

Current surveys in the sector indicate the median salaries for full-time creative roles as:

  • Entry-level roles: $45-65,000
  • Mid-level roles: $75-98,000
  • Senior Roles: $100-300,000

Salaries can be pretty varied and determined by several factors, including:

  • The segment of the industry you work within.
  • Your job title and seniority.
  • The amount of experience you have.
  • Whether you freelance or are employed directly.
  • Where you work, for example, not-for-profit organisations tend to have lower salaries than for-profit or larger organisations.
  • Your location, for example, companies in large cities tend to pay more than those in rural areas.

Industry Growth:

Reports have consistently indicated that the creative media and arts sector has shown steady growth year-on-year – with no sign of slowing down!

Since 2011, roles in creative services have grown at almost double that of any other industry – especially for software and digital content roles:

  • The highest growth percentage has been for advertising and marketing roles, at 4.7%.
  • The second highest has been within design roles, at 3.2%.
  • On average, the sector has grown by 3% year-on-year.

The only area that has shown a decrease in growth is in publishing and literature, but the sector still contributes significantly to economic development.

Qualifications

There are multiple ways to kick-start your career in this industry.

Some popular academic pathways and qualifications include:

  • Certificate II in Creative Media Industries
  • Diploma in Creative Media Industries
  • Bachelor in Creative Media
  • Bachelor of Arts

These are general academic qualifications. You can also specialise a degree or diploma in any area of the industry you’re most interested in.

Best Places to Study:

Where you choose to study will depend on your interests, preferred specialisation, and learning style. New Zealand offers a range of highly regarded institutions across creative media, design, film, and performing arts.

Some well-known options include:

  • University of Auckland – Strong programmes in creative arts, film, media, and design

  • Auckland University of Technology (AUT) – Noted for media, communication, and digital creativity

  • Victoria University of Wellington – Recognised for film, theatre, and creative writing

  • Massey University – Highly regarded for design, visual communication, and creative technologies

  • Unitec Institute of Technology – Practical, industry-focused creative courses

  • Toi Whakaari: New Zealand Drama School – Specialist training in acting and performance

  • Southern Institute of Technology (SIT) – Applied creative and digital media programmes

Different institutions may specialise in areas such as:

🎬 Film & Screen Production
🎭 Performing Arts
🎨 Design & Visual Communication
💻 Digital Media & Animation
📰 Media & Communications

Researching courses, facilities, graduate outcomes, and entry requirements will help you find the best fit.

Whatever creative path you’re considering, there are excellent study options available across Aotearoa.

Where to Learn More:

You can explore different areas of the creative media and arts sector through professional bodies and organisations that support, represent, and advocate for careers in the industry.

Some helpful places to start include:

  • Creative New Zealand – National arts development and funding agency

  • New Zealand Film Commission – Supports film production and talent development

  • NZ On Air – Invests in local television, music, and digital media content

  • Recorded Music NZ – Represents the recorded music industry

  • APRA AMCOS New Zealand – Music licensing, rights, and industry support

  • New Zealand Music Commission – Career development and export support

  • Game Developers Association of New Zealand (NZGDA) – Interactive games and digital entertainment

  • Equity New Zealand – Performers’ union and representation

  • Designers Institute of New Zealand (DINZ) – Design professionals and industry development

These organisations provide:

🎓 Career insights
🤝 Networking opportunities
📚 Industry research
💼 Professional development
💰 Grants and funding pathways

There are many more associations, guilds, and regional organisations across Aotearoa that can help you build connections and better understand your chosen creative pathway.