Town Hall revival edges Wellington’s music precinct closer to reality

Wednesday, 4 June 2025

The public is getting a glimpse inside Wellington’s Town Hall that’s been closed for more than a decade and is scheduled for reopening in early 2027.

After years of silence, Wellington Town Hall is alive with the sound of construction.

In about 18 months, the sound of hammers and drills will give way to music, as the first stage of the National Music Centre is completed.

The Town Hall, Te Whare Whakarauika, has been closed to the public since 2013, when it was deemed earthquake prone.

Inside, a fit-out is underway as the 121-year-old heritage building moves into the next phase of its life: becoming the centre of what supporters say will be a world-class musical precinct.

The National Music Centre is a partnership between Victoria University, the Wellington City Council and the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra.

The National Music Centre is taking shape inside Wellington Town Hall.

Standing on the stage, wearing a hard hat and speaking over the noise of hammers and drills, NZSO chair Carmel Walsh said the organisation’s dream of a state-of-the-art music facility and venue was “tantalisingly close”.

“It’s a beautiful space for us to perform: Victorian era acoustics with 21st century digital function downstairs.”

Arts Minister Paul Goldsmith, NZSO chair Carmel Walsh, NZSO project manager Craig Thorne and Ministry for Culture and Heritage chief executive Leauanae Laulu Mac Leauanae view the construction from the stage.

Downstairs, the basement will house soundproof spaces for the NZSO’s recording studios, video editing suites, practice spaces, and a control room.

Onstage at the Town Hall. Below, the basement is being fitted out with state of the art studios.

The centre’s plans have shifted over time. It was originally meant to be housed in the Town Hall, Michael Fowler Centre, and a new adjoining building for the NZSO’s administrative work.

But in late 2023, the NZSO began looking at other options after Victoria University paused its involvement due to financial issues. The university recommitted in early 2024, but its proposed home for the music school, Wellington Central Library/Te Matapihi, was later ruled out as unsuitable.

The total cost of the Town Hall refurbishment is $329m. The bill for stage one of the music centre was $11.6m. This was made up of $6m from the previous government, $2m from the recent budget, and philanthropic contributions.

A fundraising campaign led by former Wellington mayor Kerry Prendergast has also raised $32 million for the project. She said on Tuesday she hoped to raise more money for the next stage.

It’s not clear how or when the second stage of the project will unfold. Unknowns include the location of the New Zealand School of Music, and where NZSO will house its remaining staff: Walsh said the organisation was “flexible”, and intended to work with the university.

Minster for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith said a $2m Government contribution from the latest budget would “help get it over the line”.

“There have been large sums of money invested in town hall: the National Music Centre makes the most of that, and provides an opportunity for next generation’s talent.”