A film co-production agreement between New Zealand and South Africa will benefit the creative industries in both countries, Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Christopher Finlayson said today.

South Africa has won the Kids' Lit Quiz World Final hosted in Hamilton, New Zealand.  Four grade twelve students from Manor Gardens Primary School in Durban, represented South Africa in the competition. Alexandra Breckenridge, Matthew Robbins, Emily Spencer and Sarah Herrington competed against teams from the United Kingdom, New Zealand and Canada.  To secure their place in the World final, the Manor Gardens team competed in regional and national competitions to beat 150 South African schools and be crowned national champions.

The New Zealand Governement has partnered with New Zealand philanthropic foundation, Jasmine Social Investments, to deliver aid in a new way in Africa.

Through the New Zealand Aid Programme, the New Zealand Government recently partnered with Jasmine Social Investments through a matching agreement, to the tune of NZ$600,000 over one year, to support their established agricultural-focused social investments in East Africa. The New Zealand Government’s Africa Aid Programme is focused on enhancing sustainable economic development, through support to Agriculture and Private Sector Development in Africa.