Te Oro

What Te Oro does

Te Oro is a publicly-funded community music and arts centre located at 98 Line Road, Glen Innes, Auckland, New Zealand. Operated by Auckland Council under the governance of the Maungakiekie-Tāmaki Local Board, the facility opened in 2016 to address a long-standing absence of dedicated performing arts infrastructure in the area. The centre serves young people and the broader Glen Innes community, offering access to professional-grade facilities for music production, dance rehearsal, visual arts, and theatrical performance.

The facility comprises ten distinct venue spaces: the flagship Taurere performance venue (capacity 110-150), Te Pupu o Kawau artist studio, Maungarei Dance Studio, four music studios equipped with professional recording infrastructure (Pro Tools, Ableton, Focusrite, Apollo preamps, multi-track recording capabilities), and three art workshops including a Digital Suite with iMac workstations. The centre also features the Sound Sites installation — six integrated audio artwork zones around the building perimeter featuring sculptural speakers and community-composed soundscapes. Programming includes structured arts education (piano lessons at $15 per session), free community classes (KPOP dance, B-Boy/B-Girl breaking, Painters Club, Art & Tea), and venue hire services with off-peak rates from $38.20/hr to $95.20/hr and peak rates from $47.80/hr to $119.00/hr.

The business model is a hybrid of public funding and modest commercial revenue. Auckland Council via the Maungakiekie-Tāmaki Local Board provides operational funding, supplemented by NZ Lottery Grants Board grants and creative partnerships with APRA, Crescendo Trust, Massive Theatre, Serato, Street Dance New Zealand, and Ruapatoka Marae. Commercial revenue is generated through venue hire (transactional hourly rates with regular-hirer discounts) and class fees, while many programmes are deliberately offered free to remove barriers to participation. The centre carries significant cultural significance, with its name gifted by Ngāti Pāoa and endorsed by Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki and Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei, and incorporates traditional Māori design elements including tukutuku panels created by Te Roopū Raranga o Tāmaki Makaurau.

Name

Te Oro

Legal name

Te Oro

Website

https://teoro.org.nz

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Te Oro is a council-operated community music and arts centre in Glen Innes, Auckland, offering professional venue hire, recording studios, dance studios, and free or low-cost arts programmes for local young people and the broader community.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Arts Centre

NAICS

Other Performing Arts Companies (711190), Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71), Fine Arts Schools (61161), Performing Arts Companies (7111)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Performing Arts & Cultural Event Venues (Theaters, Museums) (THAHAAAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Theater & Performing Arts Venue Operations (Playhouses, Opera Houses) (MPAGALAB), Arts & Culture Service/Support Organizations (Networks, Advocacy, Capacity Building) (BPAGAHAL), Indigenous, Ethnic & Folk Arts/Heritage Organizations (BPAGAHAI)

Keywords

• Community arts centre
• Performing arts education
• Venue hire services
• Youth music programs
• Cultural arts facility

Headquarters

HQ city

Glen Innes

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Venue Hire: Rental of performance spaces, studios, and workshop areas to community groups, artists, and organizations. Revenue generated through hourly venue hire rates with off-peak and peak pricing tiers. Discounts available for regular hirers (10+ bookings per financial year) and community-focused events meeting charter criteria.
2. Class and Programme Fees: Fees charged for structured educational programmes including music lessons (e.g., piano lessons at $15 per session), dance classes, and art workshops. Some programmes are offered free of charge to remove barriers to participation.
3. Council Funding: Operational funding provided by Auckland Council through the Maungakiekie-Tamaki Local Board, supplemented by grants from NZ Lottery Grants Board to support community arts programming.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Te Oro is a purpose-built community music and arts centre in Glen Innes, Auckland, that provides hourly venue hire across ten hireable spaces (Taurere performance venue, Te Pupu o Kawau artist studio, Maungarei Dance Studio, four music studios for recording/production, three art workshops, and a Digital Suite) for performances, rehearsals, recordings, and workshops. It also runs structured term-based arts programmes for children, youth, and adults in piano, KPOP dance, breaking, art meditation, and youth painting, with prices ranging from free community classes to $15 per half-hour piano lesson. The centre is operated by Auckland Council under the Maungakiekie-Tāmaki Local Board and partners with creative organisations including APRA, Crescendo Trust, Massive Theatre, Serato, and Street Dance New Zealand.

Product overview

Te Oro is a purpose-built music and arts centre for young people and the local community in Glen Innes, Auckland. Its offering consists of two interconnected pillars: (1) Venue hire across 10 distinct spaces — the flagship Taurere flexible performance/rehearsal space, Te Pupu o Kawau artist studio, Maungarei Dance Studio, four music studios (Studios 1–4 for recording, production, and songwriting), three art workshops (including a Digital Suite), and the Sound Sites outdoor audio artwork installation; and (2) Structured arts programs and classes including Piano Lessons, KPOP Dance Classes, B-Boy & B-Girl Breaking Classes, Art & Tea, and the Painters Club. The centre is operated as a community facility under Auckland Council.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Taurere Performance Space A flexible rehearsal and performance space on Level 1 with a fully sprung floor, blackout curtains, multiple configurations (North-facing, East-facing, Traverse, Conference, Workshop), house lighting rig, projector, screen, PA system, dressing rooms, and control booth. Spaces range from 6m x 4m to 14.5m x 7m with capacities of 110–150 seated/standing. Available for hire by community groups, performing arts organisations, and event organisers.
• Te Pupu o Kawau Artist Studio An artist studio ideal for classes, workshops, artist residencies, and sculptural work, also usable as an additional green room for Taurere. Includes a sink basin. Capacity of 16. Available for hire by individual artists and community groups.
• Maungarei Dance Studio A dance studio on Level 2 for dance and drama rehearsals, group workshops, and classes, featuring a sprung floor, mirrors, dance bar, and Panasonic PA system with 5 speakers. Capacity of 40. Available for hire.
• Studio 1 (Meeting / Rehearsal Space) A carpeted studio space on Level 2 suitable for meetings, classes, and small rehearsal groups, with seating for 20 and an area of 40.62 square metres. Available for hire.
• Music Studio 2 A music production, editing, and mixing studio equipped with Focusrite Octo Pre amps, Apollo Quad2 Pre amp, Eucon S3 console, Event 2030 monitor speakers, iMac displays, Pro Tools, and Eucontrol software. Capacity of 5–6. Available for hire.
• Music Studio 3 A studio designed for singer-songwriter and voiceover recordings, equipped with a Rode K2 Condenser microphone, acoustic screen, pop filters, and headphone monitor rack. Capacity of 3 in a 3.2m x 2.8m area. Available for hire.
• Music Studio 4 (Live Recording Room) A live recording room for high-quality multi-track recording of bands, solo artists, and community groups. Equipped with SRM350 speakers, a 16-channel ProFX16 console, guitar and bass amps, a Roland FA 08 keyboard, and a full Gretsch drum kit. Capacity of 10 in a 5.3m x 4.2m area. Available for hire.
• Art Workshop 1 A large art studio on Level 2 for printing, painting, and classes/workshops, featuring a large sink and Epson EB-485Wi projector. Capacity of 18. Available for hire.
• Workshop 2 A small art space or meeting space with 2 tables and seating for 10. Currently not available for hire.
• Digital Suite Workshop 3 A unique iMac computer suite for students to access music and media technologies, supporting bring-your-own-device activities. Capacity of 14. Available for hire.
• Piano Lessons at Te Oro Keyboard and piano lessons covering gospel, jazz, pop, and classical styles, including posture, ear training, music theory, scales, and technique. Taught by Roccieli Fernando. $15 per half-hour session, 6 slots per term.
• KPOP Dance Classes Free youth KPOP dance classes led by Stephanie Santos, offering expert guidance in various KPOP styles for beginners to pros in a vibrant, inclusive atmosphere. For ages 7+.
• B-Boy & B-Girl Dance Classes Breaking classes teaching foundations, history, and culture of breaking, including footwork, strength, style, and creativity. Led by Bboy Simba aka Daniel Jang. Free admission, ages 8–18.
• Art & Tea A course for adults aged 16+ focused on freedom of art expression and meditation, promoting mental wellbeing and emotional regulation through creative expression and mindfulness practices.
• Painters Club An art program for aspiring young artists aged 7+ to learn new skills and get creative, guided by tutor Celene Miller using watercolour, acrylic paint, clay, markers, and more. All materials provided, free admission.
• Sound Sites A network of six integrated artwork zones around the building perimeter, each consisting of sculptural speaker cones broadcasting audio artworks, machine-carved timber columns, and kōwhatu (stones). Features community soundscapes composed by Matthew Salapu (Anonymouz) and mana whenua artists including Lorna Rikihana, Mahu Rawiri, and Jerome Cowley.

Quantifiable outcome

• Free programming removes economic barriers to arts participation

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• APRAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCreative partner providing support for music-related programmes and initiatives.
• Crescendo TrustminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCreative partner supporting music and arts programming at Te Oro.
• Massive TheatreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCreative partner in theatre and performing arts, likely supporting theatre programmes and workshops.
• Ruapatoka MaraeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMarae-based creative partner involved in tukutuku panel creation and community cultural engagement. Located at Ruapotaka Marae where tukutuku weavers created panels for Te Oro.
• SeratominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCreative partner supporting music technology and production programmes. Known music software company with local New Zealand roots.
• Street Dance New ZealandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCreative partner supporting street dance and breaking programmes, aligning with Te Oro's youth dance offerings.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights2 records

Direct peers

• Corban Estate Arts Centre: Community arts centre in Henderson, West Auckland, operating multi-use studios, galleries, and venue hire for community arts programming. Directly comparable as an Auckland Council-supported community arts hub with hireable venues and education programmes.
• Te Auaha: Wellington community arts centre at the bottom of Cuba Street delivering performing arts, music, and creative technology programmes. Comparable multi-disciplinary community arts mandate with venue hire and structured classes.
• Mangere Arts Centre - Ngahere: Auckland community arts facility in Māngere offering studio hire, classes, and community programmes targeting South Auckland youth. Comparable mandate, governance model (council-supported), and programming mix to Te Oro.

Broad incumbents

• Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki: Auckland's principal public art gallery and a major Auckland Council cultural institution. Operates in the same cultural ecosystem and shares the council-funded mandate, but at much larger scale and focused on visual art exhibition rather than performing arts.
• Civic Theatre Auckland: Heritage performing arts venue in central Auckland offering hireable performance space, comparable Taurere-type function for larger-scale productions. Competes for the same Auckland hirers needing performance infrastructure.
• Q Theatre: Auckland's mid-sized professional performing arts venue in the city centre, with hireable performance spaces and a strong youth/community programming slate. A larger incumbent competitor for the same hirers and audience pool as Te Oro.
• Basement Theatre: Auckland independent performing arts venue focused on emerging makers, with comparable flexible studio/performance configurations and youth-skewed programming. Competes for the same emerging Auckland creative community.
• Aotea Centre: Auckland's largest council-operated performing arts venue, managed by Auckland Live. Competes with Te Oro for high-value hirers, but serves a different scale of production; useful benchmark for council arts venue operating economics.

Regional players

• The Piano: Christchurch community arts centre delivering music, dance, and performance programmes with hireable venues. Regionally comparable operating model (community arts + venue hire + classes) but serving the South Island rather than Auckland.
• Te Matatiki Toi Ora The Arts Centre: Christchurch Arts Centre, a heritage creative quarter hosting studios, performance spaces, galleries, and community programmes. Regionally distinct but operationally comparable as a multi-disciplinary community arts precinct with hireable creative spaces.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/TeOroGlenInnes
• Instagraminstagram.com/teorogleninnes
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/te-oro

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 Oro