Our story so far
SoundCheck Aotearoa formed in 2020 as a localised, community-held response to systemic harm and inequity in the music industry. The early workings of the initiative came to life by a small, independent action group of people working within the Aotearoa music community, bound by a shared belief that meaningful change was both necessary and possible.
2020-2022
Formation coincided with the release of Massey University and APRA AMCOS NZ’s Amplify Aotearoa research (Dr Catherine Hoad and Dr Oli Wilson) where findings communicated a picture of widespread bias, disadvantage, discrimination, and sexual harm across the music sector.
In 2021, SoundCheck Aotearoa undertook community consultation through the commissioning of an independent report to further understand the lived experiences of our music community in relation to issues raised in Amplify Aotearoa. This process culminated in the report Creating Culture Change around Sexual Harm in the Music Community in Aotearoa, authored by specialist consultants, Rachel Harrison and Debbie Teale.
Based on these findings, SoundCheck Aotearoa made the decision to begin in the area of sexual harm prevention and response, recognising the need for focused, specialist approaches to improving safety across our industry.
In 2022, SoundCheck Aotearoa began offering free Professional Respect Training workshops (PRT) to the music community. PRT workshops are designed to build community capability in preventing and responding to sexual harm in music workplaces and community spaces. Since then, over 500 people have attended a PRT workshop*, spanning roles from artists and crew to venue workers, educators, and administrators.
In 2023, SoundCheck Aotearoa reached a significant milestone. With funding from the Ministry for Culture and Heritage, we launched an 18-month pilot project to establish the Sexual Harm Prevention and Response Advisor (SHAPRA) service. SHAPRA provides confidential, specialist, and community-informed support to individuals experiencing or responding to sexual harm within the music community. Since launching in May 2023, the SHAPRA service has supported over 359 individual cases in its 3 years of delivery, offering guidance, advocacy, and pathways to care to all people who approach it.
that same year, we began developing a community restorative framework resource. This work responds to the need for alternatives to punitive or purely legal approaches, and is focused on supporting accountability, healing, and cultural change where appropriate. The framework is designed to help the music community understand and apply restorative, survivor-centered approaches to addressing harm, while prioritizing safety and consent at every stage.
In 2024, we delived Project Mauri Ora, a pilot programme created in collaboration with the Māori music industry collective. This project centres Te Ao Māori approaches to wellbeing, safety, and cultural integrity, and supports more inclusive, culturally grounded responses to harm within the music community.
SoundCheck Aotearoa remains committed to long-term, community-led mahi. Our story so far is one of listening, learning, and building together—and we know that lasting change depends on continued collaboration across the music community.
Founding partners
The work of SoundCheck Aotearoa to date, would not have been possible without the early belief, funding, and support of our founding partner organisations: