$1 million more for authors in Budget

2.00pm

The Government is to spend another $1 million a year to assist authors in New Zealand.

Arts Minister and Prime Minister Helen Clark said in a pre-budget announcement this morning that a working party would be set up to consider how the money was best spent.

The party, comprising representatives of Creative New Zealand and the Culture Ministry, would also look if any changes were necessary to the Authors Fund.

The fund compensates authors for loss of royalties due to their books being in libraries.

"New Zealand authors have long played an important role in expressing and projecting what is unique about our country. That essential role has not been well supported. This initiative will increase annual expenditure on literature by about 40 per cent," Miss Clark said.

The Finance Minister, Michael Cullen, will present the Government's Budget in Parliament this afternoon, starting at 2pm.

Many of the Budget initiatives have been announced in advance during recent weeks.

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