The
Third National Government of New Zealand established a ministerial portfolio with responsibility for the arts at its election in 1975. This reflected a growing interest of the Government in the cultural sector. The name of the portfolio changed to "Minister for Arts and Culture" in 1987. During this period, the portfolio was serviced by the
Department of Internal Affairs. and subsequently by
Margaret Austin (also the Minister for Arts and Culture; 9 February 1990 – 2 November 1990) before being subsumed back into the responsibilities of the Minister for Arts and Culture. A standalone agency, the Ministry for Cultural Affairs, was established by the
Fourth National Government in 1991, which necessitated the change of title to "Minister for Cultural Affairs." With the creation of the
Ministry for Culture and Heritage in 1999, which brought together cultural and heritage responsibilities in the same agency, the portfolio title changed to match its department. The present name was adopted in November 1999 at the election of the
Fifth Labour Government. ==List of ministers==