Creative freelancers dominated the Tāmaki Makaurau sample: More respondents reported being a creative freelancer (71%) than any other role in the creative sector. This was followed unpaid creative individuals (18%), and individuals working for a company (17%).

Performing and visual arts were strongly represented by Tāmaki Makaurau respondents: Tāmaki Makaurau respondents were active in many creative areas. Performing arts was the most prominent area reported (46%), followed by visual arts (41%) and music (24%).

Tāmaki Makaurau respondents have shifted to become even more pessimistic about their financial position: Respondents rated their outlook on whether their creative work would support their financial position in the next 12 months (from 1 meaning very pessimistic to 6 meaning very optimistic). Compared to the September-October survey, pessimism increased from 55% to 65%, and optimism fell from 45% to 32%, indicating a declining trend in optimism since the initial June-July survey.

Fewer respondents expected to either increase their current staff or contractor numbers, compared to the previous survey: The number of respondents who expect to take on new staff or contractors had decreased (from 44% to 25%) and those who expect staff or contractor numbers to stay the same or reduce had increased (from 34% to 42% and 11% to 19% respectively).

Tāmaki Makaurau respondents’ view on achieving their creative goals shifted to become more pessimistic: Respondents rated their outlook on whether they would achieve their own or their organisations’ creative goals in the next 12 months (from 1 meaning very pessimistic to 6 meaning very optimistic). Compared to the September-October survey, pessimism increased from 41% to 50%, and optimism fell from 57% to 49%. This indicates a declining trend in optimism since the initial JuneJuly survey.

Tāmaki Makaurau respondents tended to report that audience appetite for their creative work had decreased: With 39% reporting audience appetite being less than usual, 26% reporting that it was the more than usual and 22% reporting that it was the same. Overall, the average rating was 1.9 out of 3 (from 1 meaning less than usual to 3 meaning more than usual). This is slightly lower than the average rating for September-October (2.0).