Toi Whakaari

Name

Toi Whakaari

Legal name

Toi Whakaari: New Zealand Drama School

Website

https://toiwhakaari.ac.nz

Company type

Private

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts Education

NAICS

Fine Arts Schools (61161), Fine Arts Schools (611610)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Performing Arts (Acting, Improv, Theater) (EDAAAGAE)

Keywords

• Performing arts education
• Drama school training
• Tertiary acting programmes
• Stage production courses
• Costume construction diploma

Headquarters

HQ city

Wellington

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition Fees: The school generates revenue primarily through tuition fees from domestic and international students enrolled in its performing arts programmes.
2. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Toi Whakaari receives donations from individual supporters, corporate sponsors, and charitable trusts. The school is a registered charity (CC20345).
3. Venue Hire: The school offers venue hire services for external events and productions.
4. Bequests and Legacy Giving: The school accepts bequests from supporters wishing to leave a legacy to the performing arts.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Toi Whakaari is New Zealand's national drama school providing tertiary-level performing arts education through three Bachelor of Performing Arts (BPA) degrees in Acting, Design, and Production, two New Zealand Diplomas in Costume Construction and Scenic Construction & Properties, and a Postgraduate Studies programme. Programmes combine intensive in-person workshop-based training with industry secondments and live production experience, supported by the specialised Nola Millar Library.

Product overview

Toi Whakaari is New Zealand's national drama school offering a portfolio of 6 distinct performing arts programmes: 3 Bachelor of Performing Arts (BPA) degree programmes at Level 7 endorsed in Acting, Design, and Production (each 3 years), 2 New Zealand Diplomas at Level 6 in Costume Construction and Scenic Construction & Properties (each 2 years), and 1 Postgraduate programme (full or part-time). These are complemented by the Nola Millar Library, a specialised learning resource. The BPA programmes share a common foundation while the diplomas are vocational specialisations. Mātauranga Māori and Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles underpin all offerings, and the institution operates from Te Whaea: National Dance and Drama Centre in Wellington.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Bachelor of Performing Arts (BPA) - Acting A three-year Level 7 degree programme providing intensive and practical training in acting for stage, screen, and other media, with a focus on collaboration and building working relationships that reflect industry practice. Designed for aspiring actors pursuing careers in theatre, film, and screen arts.
• Bachelor of Performing Arts (BPA) - Design A three-year Level 7 degree programme equipping students with essential skills in design for live performance, screen arts, and other media, covering set design, costume design, and other performance design modalities. Takes a small cohort of up to 12 students per year.
• Bachelor of Performing Arts (BPA) - Production A three-year Level 7 degree programme providing essential skills in production and arts management for stage, screen, and other media, delivered across production-specific and interdisciplinary learning opportunities. Takes a small cohort of up to 12 students per year.
• New Zealand Diploma in Costume Construction A two-year Level 6 vocational diploma and the only tertiary course in New Zealand specialising in costume construction for stage and screen, covering all aspects of costume work with industry secondments in Year 2. NZQA accredited (Programme code NZ3424).
• New Zealand Diploma in Scenic Construction & Properties A two-year Level 6 programme equipping students with a comprehensive foundation in constructing sets and properties for live and screen arts, combining artistic craftsmanship with technical expertise. NZQA accredited (Programme code NZ3437).
• Postgraduate Studies A postgraduate programme available full or part-time for students who have completed undergraduate studies, providing advanced training and research opportunities in performing arts disciplines.
• Nola Millar Library A specialised library containing more than 14,000 plays and screenplays, over 12,000 books on performing arts and film, over 4,500 DVDs and videos, theatre and dance magazines, and archival recordings from Toi Whakaari and the New Zealand School of Dance. Uses Koha integrated library management system with access to the Ebsco Database for the International Bibliography of Theatre & Dance.
• Venue Hire Venue hire services offered for external events and productions at Toi Whakaari's Wellington facility at Te Whaea: National Dance and Drama Centre, 11 Hutchison Road, Newtown.

Named customers7 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

Integration3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• ReseneminorOthersResene supplies paint and products to the Set & Props Department for constructing props and sets for productions.
• Buddle FindlayminorOthersLaw firm Buddle Findlay donates many hours of legal advice to support the school.
• Pelorus TrustminorOthersCharitable trust that provides funding support to Toi Whakaari.
• Pub CharityminorOthersCharitable organisation providing funding support.
• Grassroots TrustminorOthersCharitable trust providing funding support.
• Four WindsminorOthersCharitable organisation providing funding support.
• Lion FoundationminorOthersCharitable foundation providing funding support.
• One FoundationminorOthersCharitable organisation providing funding support.
• NZCT (New Zealand Creative Tourism)minorOthersNew Zealand Community Trust providing funding support.
• New Zealand School of DancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerShared facility partnership in Te Whaea: National Dance and Drama Centre. Costume students collaborate with the NZ School of Dance on major performance events.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• New Zealand School of Dance: Co-located partner at Te Whaea: National Dance and Drama Centre, sharing the Wellington facility and collaborating on major performances. Comparable as a national tertiary performing-arts training institution.
• National Academy of Singing and Dramatic Art (NASDA): NZ-based tertiary performing arts school offering acting and musical theatre training — directly comparable in product offering and target student segment within the NZ market.
• Te Kōkī New Zealand School of Music: Wellington-based national music school offering tertiary performing-arts training across classical, jazz, and composition — comparable as a NZ tertiary creative-arts institution.

Broad incumbents

• London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA): UK-based tertiary performing-arts school offering acting, production, and technical theatre programmes — comparable curriculum but materially larger international student base and brand.
• National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA): Australia's flagship tertiary drama school offering acting, design, production, and technical theatre training — comparable in curriculum scope but operates at significantly larger scale and brand recognition.
• Victorian College of the Arts (VCA): University of Melbourne's performing and visual arts faculty covering acting, film, dance, music, and design — broader incumbent with overlapping disciplines (acting, design, production).
• Massey University College of Creative Arts: NZ university college offering design, spatial design, and creative arts degrees. Toi Whakaari graduates (e.g., Meg Rollandi) have become lecturers here — comparable as a NZ tertiary creative-arts educator with overlapping design curriculum.
• Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA): Globally renowned UK drama school offering acting, technical theatre, and design training — comparable as a tertiary acting/design/production provider, with far larger international brand.

Regional players

• Ara Institute of Canterbury (Performing Arts): Christchurch-based NZ polytechnic offering performing arts and screen production programmes — comparable in tertiary creative-arts training but serves a different NZ region than Toi Whakaari.

Emerging players

• Te Auaha (NZ Institute of Creativity): Wellington-based creative polytechnic offering performing arts, film, music, and creative technology programmes — an emerging NZ competitor in the same geographic catchment with overlapping student demographics.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ToiWhakaari
• Facebookfacebook.com/toiwhakaari
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/toi-whakaari-nz-drama-school

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Toi Whakaari