Te Whaea

What Te Whaea does

Te Whaea (National Dance and Drama Centre) is a non-profit performing arts venue located in Wellington, New Zealand, on the Wellington City Exhibition Grounds site. Opened on 26 June 1998, the venue operates specialized facilities comprising five dance studios, three drama studios, five performance spaces, meeting rooms, and an arts library. Its two anchor tenants are Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School and the New Zealand School of Dance (NZSD), both national training institutions. Beyond the anchor tenants, Te Whaea hires space to more than 60 community and arts groups annually and serves approximately 15,000 visitors per year.

The business model is venue hire on a quote-based pricing structure, supplemented by box office and ticketing services for productions staged at the venue and commercial rent from co-located sports and recreation tenants within the broader Exhibition Grounds complex — The Circus Hub, Capital Gym Sports, Wellington Indoor Sports, Tāwhiri, and the Te Whaea Artificial Turf. The site is governed by the Wellington City Exhibition Grounds Act 1959, which places the land under council stewardship and constrains alternative commercial use. The organization operates with 11–50 employees and is led by an executive team reporting to a board; high-profile cultural endorsement is provided by Dame Kiri Te Kanawa as patron.

The original 1997–1998 redevelopment was funded by a NZ$5 million capital package from the Ministry of Education (NZ$1.9M), Lotteries (NZ$1.6M), the Todd Foundation (NZ$25K), and Wellington City Council (NZ$1M bridging loan guarantee). The venue's strategic positioning rests on its national designation, its long-term anchor tenant relationships, and its partnership with Wellington City Council. The 25th anniversary milestone in 2023 reflects ongoing steady-state operation rather than expansion.

Name

Te Whaea

Legal name

Te Whaea: National Dance and Drama Centre

Website

https://www.tewhaea.org.nz

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Te Whaea is a non-profit performing arts venue in Wellington, New Zealand, housing Toi Whakaari (NZ Drama School) and the New Zealand School of Dance as anchor tenants, and serving 60+ community groups and 15,000+ visitors annually through studio and theatre hire.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts Venue Hire

NAICS

Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (71131)

akta.pro primary industry

Performing Arts Centers & Presenters (Programming/Booking) (MPAGABAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Theater & Performing Arts Venue Operations (Playhouses, Opera Houses) (MPAGALAB), Performing Arts & Cultural Event Venues (Theaters, Museums) (THAHAAAG)

Keywords

• Venue hire services
• Performing arts facilities
• Dance studio rental
• Drama rehearsal spaces
• Black box theatre

Headquarters

HQ city

Wellington

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Infrastructure, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Venue Space Rental: Te Whaea generates revenue by renting out its dance studios, drama studios, theatres, and meeting rooms to external organizations, community groups, and corporate clients. Spaces are hired for rehearsals, performances, conferences, and events. The sports facilities within the wider complex pay commercial rent which supplements Te Whaea's budget.
2. Box Office and Ticketing Services: Te Whaea provides a Box Office/Ticketing service that manages ticketing for hirers' shows at an additional hire charge.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

Te Whaea is a performing arts venue and charitable trust that hires out specialist studio, theatre, and meeting spaces to performing arts schools, community groups, and corporate clients. Its portfolio includes dance studios with Harlequin sprung floors, drama studios with sprung wooden floors, a black box theatre, and meeting/event spaces, supported by a Box Office/Ticketing service and technical infrastructure. The venue is home to New Zealand's national dance and drama schools and serves over 60 community groups annually.

Product overview

Te Whaea National Dance and Drama Centre is a venue facility offering a portfolio of hireable spaces for performing arts, conferences, and corporate events. The portfolio comprises: five dance studios (Dance Studios 1-5) featuring Harlequin sprung floors for various dance styles; three drama studios (Drama 1, 2, 3) with sprung wooden floors suitable for activities like Tai Chi, yoga, choir, and martial arts; five performance spaces including the Te Whaea Theatre (black box style, 150-170 capacity), Basement Theatre (up to 50 capacity), Screen Lab, SEEyD Space, and Drama 10; and meeting/event spaces including The Plaza (440m2 atrium), Large Meeting Room, Small Meeting Room, and Drama 6. Additional services include Box Office/Ticketing service and technical space hire including Sound Studio and Edit Suites. The venue is positioned as a tertiary campus and community hub ten minutes from Wellington's CBD.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Te Whaea Theatre A black box style theatre with floor area of 23.8m x 16.5m (398m2), featuring full catwalk access system, integrated lighting bars, audio patch system, and seating capacity of 150-170 in end stage configuration. Available for hire to performing arts groups and event organizers.
• Basement Theatre An internal basement-level studio theatre with bare concrete space, approximately 437m2 and 4.5m high with asphalt floor, maximum occupancy of 50 people. Suitable for hire for performances and rehearsals.
• Screen Lab An internal basement-level studio with floor area of 109m2 (12.8m x 9m), 5m high with black vinyl floor and white painted walls, featuring a suspended 48mm pipe grid. Available for hire for film, screen, and performance work.
• SEEyD Space A smaller rectangular internal basement-level studio of approximately 18m x 4.5m and 4.5m high, with white painted walls and black asphalt floor. Available for hire for performance and rehearsal work.
• Drama 10 An internal basement-level studio of approximately 15m x 18m (387m2) with particleboard floor, 4.5m high ceiling with 6 supporting pillars, mirrors on one wall. Available for hire for rehearsal and performance.
• Dance Studio 1 The largest dance studio located on ground floor, 24m x 15m (370m2) with Harlequin sprung floors, full-length mirrors, suspended 48mm pipe grid, grand piano, and exterior fire exit. Available for hire to dance schools, performing arts groups, and dance practitioners.
• Dance Studio 2 An internal studio with skylights and fixed windows, 15m x 15.6m (235m2) with Harlequin sprung floors, wall-mounted whiteboard and TV. Available for hire.
• Dance Studio 3 Located on mezzanine level, 15.3m x 16m (266m2) with Harlequin sprung floors, fixed windows on three sides, skylights, and air conditioning unit. Available for hire.
• Dance Studio 4 A large square-shaped studio, 15.3m x 15.3m (234m2) with Harlequin sprung floors, exterior windows with fire exit door, and curtains for covering windows. Available for hire.
• Dance Studio 5 The smallest dance studio, approximately 9m x 9m (90m2) with Harlequin sprung floors, internal studio with skylights, suitable for private solo practice. Available for hire.
• Drama 1 The largest ground floor drama studio, 23m x 12m (279m2) with sprung wooden floor, full-length mirrors, suspended 48mm pipe grid, and sound system with speakers. Available for hire to drama schools, performing arts groups, and activity groups.
• Drama 2 A large drama studio with sprung wooden floor, 16.5m x 12m (200m2), featuring fixed windows, wall-mounted TV with USB/HDMI connections, and sound system. Available for hire.
• Drama 3 A large square-shaped studio with sprung wooden floor, 14.4m x 15m (216m2), featuring ballet barres, opening windows, and white lines on floor outlining geometry of space. Available for hire.
• The Plaza A large open-plan atrium space of 440m2 used as common area during term time, suitable for functions, events, workshop registration, and front-of-house gathering area with polished hardwood floor.
• Large Meeting Room The biggest formal meeting room with floor area of 31m2, suitable for 12-20 people, furnished with tables and chairs, wall-mounted TV and whiteboard. Available for hire for corporate meetings and events.
• Small Meeting Room Suitable for meetings of up to 6 people with floor area of 13m2, featuring large oval table, chairs, and large flat-screen TV with mostly glass walls. Available for hire.
• Venue Hire Space hire service for performing arts, conferences and corporate events, offering specialist studios and spaces for hire including dance studios, drama studios, theatres, and meeting rooms. Available to performing arts groups, community organizations, and corporate clients.
• Box Office and Ticketing Service Ticketing service that manages ticketing for events and performances at additional hire charge. Provides box office support for hirers' shows.

Named customers14 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Toi Whakaari: New Zealand Drama SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 June 1998Anchor tenant of Te Whaea. New Zealand's national drama school offering Bachelor of Performing Arts (Acting) degree and technical production course. Became home to Te Whaea in 1998 as the first time either school had purpose-built facilities. Annie Ruth was appointed Director in 1997.
• New Zealand School of DancecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 June 1998Anchor tenant of Te Whaea. New Zealand's national dance school. Garry Trinder was appointed Director in 1998 and remains in that role. The school moved into Te Whaea as its first purpose-built facility.
• Wellington City CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1997Wellington City Council agreed to act as guarantor for the $1 million bridging loan required for the refurbishment. The council works closely with Te Whaea to support a shared commitment to community and world-class arts and culture. The venue is governed under special legislation enabling the council to lease portions of the site.
• Kiri Te KanawacoreOthers · 1 January 1997World-renowned opera singer who came on board as patron of both Toi Whakaari and NZSD, supporting the establishment of Te Whaea as a national performing arts centre.
• The Circus HubminorOthersNew Zealand's largest Circus School operating within the wider Te Whaea complex.
• Capital Gym SportsminorOthersSports facility within the wider Te Whaea complex, paying commercial rent that supplements Te Whaea's budget.
• Wellington Indoor SportsminorOthersSports facility within the wider Te Whaea complex, paying commercial rent that supplements Te Whaea's budget.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• Circa Theatre: Wellington-based professional theatre company operating its own venue with a year-round season of productions. Directly comparable to Te Whaea as a Wellington performing arts venue competing for the same community and corporate hirers.
• BATS Theatre: New Zealand's leading developer of new theatre practitioners, operating a venue in central Wellington. Comparable as a Wellington performing arts venue targeting independent and community theatre users.
• The Opera House Wellington: Heritage Wellington theatre venue hosting opera, ballet, and large-scale performing arts productions. Comparable to Te Whaea as a Wellington-based performing arts presentation and hire venue.
• Toi Poneke: Wellington City Council-operated performing arts centre providing studio and theatre hire for community groups and artists. Comparable as a council-aligned Wellington venue competing for similar performing arts hirers.

Regional players

• The Court Theatre: Christchurch's largest professional theatre company operating purpose-built venues. Comparable to Te Whaea as a New Zealand performing arts venue with education and community programming.
• Isaac Theatre Royal: Restored heritage performing arts venue in Christchurch hosting touring productions, opera, and ballet. Comparable to Te Whaea as a heritage performing arts venue in New Zealand serving similar touring and resident production clients.
• Auckland Town Hall: Major Auckland performing arts and events venue operated by Auckland Unlimited. Comparable to Te Whaea as a major NZ civic venue hosting performing arts, conferences, and community hire.
• Christchurch Town Hall: Multi-venue performing arts and convention complex in Christchurch. Comparable to Te Whaea as a multi-space NZ performing arts and events venue with theatre, studio, and meeting facilities.

Broad incumbents

• Sadler's Wells: London's leading dance and movement venue operating multiple performance spaces and studios. Comparable to Te Whaea as a national-scale dance-specialist performing arts centre combining presentation, studio hire, and education partnerships.
• Barbican Centre: Major London arts centre with multiple theatres, concert halls, and studio spaces. Comparable to Te Whaea as a multi-venue performing arts complex presenting theatre, dance, and music to large public audiences.

Market position

Strengths6 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/TeWhaeaNZ
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/te-whaea

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Te Whaea