wellington opera

Name

wellington opera

Legal name

Wellington Opera Trust

Website

https://wellingtonopera.nz

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts / Opera

NAICS

Performing Arts Companies (7111), Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (71111), Other Performing Arts Companies (711190)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Opera & Operetta (MPAGABAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Classical & Contemporary Theatre (Plays/Drama) (MPAGABAH), Theater, Musicals & Performing Arts (THAJAFAB)

Keywords

• Professional opera productions
• Performing arts
• Live opera performances
• Opera company
• Staged musical productions

Headquarters

HQ city

Wellington

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Primary revenue stream from ticket sales through Ticketmaster for performances at St James Theatre. Various price points including general admission, Circle 500 premium seating, and Opera Cabaret events.
2. Donations and Supporters Programme: Tax-deductible donations through Wellington Opera Trust with six giving tiers: Totara ($10,000+), Rimu ($5,000+), Pōhutukawa ($1,000+), Kōwhai ($500), Kawakawa ($100), and Miro ($250+). Includes benefits such as invitations to open rehearsals, programme recognition, and premium seating access.
3. Sponsorship: Corporate sponsorship including presenting sponsors like The Kiri Te Kanawa Foundation and major funders. Partnership with QT Wellington offering exclusive discounts to opera patrons.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Wellington Opera is a charitable trust that presents professional opera productions for audiences in the Wellington region. The company produces full-scale staged operas, concerts, and related educational and community programming, drawing on professional singers, conductors, directors, and orchestral musicians. It operates as a registered New Zealand charitable entity with a small core staff supported by artistic contractors, volunteers, donors, and sponsors.

Product overview

Wellington Opera is a performing arts organization that presents world-class opera productions featuring internationally-renowned New Zealand artists and emerging talent. The company's portfolio consists of professional opera productions (core offering) including classical repertoire like Manon, Don Giovanni, La Traviata, Lucia di Lammermoor, Tosca, and Un Ballo in Maschera, as well as new works such as Mate Ururoa. Supporting these productions are membership and donor programmes (Circle 500, Supporters Programme), education initiatives (Schools Programme, Internships), community engagement (Community Chorus), and professional development (Creative Pathways). Special events include Opera Cabaret and partnerships with QT Wellington for audience accommodation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Professional opera productions
• Opera concerts and recitals
• Education and community programs

Quantifiable outcome

• Sold-out Manon 2026 season with extension performances added
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• QT WellingtoncoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 2 July 2026QT Wellington is a valued partner offering 20% accommodation discounts to Wellington Opera patrons. The partnership includes hosting visiting artists during the Manon season and creating exclusive offers for opera audiences staying at the hotel. QT Wellington and Museum Apartment Hotel provide the OPERA20 corporate code for discounted rates valid for stays 28/07/26 – 12/08/26.
• Museum Apartment HotelcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 2 July 2026Museum Apartment Hotel partners with Wellington Opera to offer 20% discounts to opera audiences. Located in the Courtenay Quarter near the St James Theatre, the hotel provides accommodation options for visitors traveling to Wellington for performances.
• The Kiri Te Kanawa FoundationcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerThe Kiri Te Kanawa Foundation is the presenting sponsor of Wellington Opera, providing essential support for the company. The Foundation also presents emerging artists in association with Wellington Opera, supporting the development of young singers.
• Venues Wellington (St James Theatre)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSt James Theatre is Wellington Opera's primary performance venue, owned and operated by Venues Wellington. Ticketmaster is locked in as the exclusive ticketing provider for all Venues Wellington theatres.
• Opera AotearoaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOpera Aotearoa is a collaborative partner with shared artistic connections. Wellington Opera mentions working with artists associated with Opera Aotearoa and other creative partners for Aotearoa Stories projects.
• Orchestra WellingtoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrchestra Wellington provides the orchestral foundation for Wellington Opera productions, working with conductors and singers to deliver professional opera performances.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Pinchgut Opera: Sydney-based boutique opera company specialising in period-instrument performance and lesser-performed repertoire, supported by a dedicated donor base. Comparable to Wellington Opera in producing artistically ambitious productions on a similar nonprofit trust model with strong international artist engagement.
• Opera Australia: Australia's largest opera company, presenting a full season at the Sydney Opera House and Melbourne Arts Centre. Comparable in core product (grand opera with international casts) and audience model, though operating at substantially larger scale; competes for touring NZ-resident artists like those featuring in Wellington Opera productions.
• Opera Queensland: Brisbane-based opera company producing mainstage seasons, regional touring, and community programmes. Comparable in scope to Wellington Opera including a focus on regional audiences, education outreach, and presenting Australian artists on home soil.
• State Opera of South Australia: Adelaide-based opera company producing a season of grand opera with full orchestra in a regional capital. Highly comparable in scale and business model to Wellington Opera — single-city opera company relying on donor support and presenting international-standard productions with Australian/international casts.
• NZ Opera: New Zealand's other major professional opera company, formerly the New Zealand National Opera, presenting full-scale opera productions across Auckland, Wellington, and other centres. Direct competitor for opera audiences, donor bases, and internationally-successful Kiwi singers in the same small NZ market.
• Canterbury Opera: Christchurch-based opera company producing grand opera in NZ's South Island. Direct peer as another NZ regional opera company sharing talent pools (NZ singers, conductors, directors) and competing for national audiences and donor support.

Broad incumbents

• English National Opera: Major UK opera company producing full seasons in London with international casts. Comparable as a producer of grand opera featuring international artists, but operates at substantially greater scale, public funding base, and brand recognition than Wellington Opera.
• Royal New Zealand Ballet: New Zealand's national ballet company producing classical and contemporary dance productions nationally. Comparable as a large NZ performing arts nonprofit competing for similar donor tiers, sponsors, and arts council funding in the same small market.

Others

• Orchestra Wellington: Wellington's professional symphony orchestra that provides the orchestral foundation for Wellington Opera productions. Direct operating partner and shared audience pool, though a different art form (orchestral concerts rather than staged opera).
• New Zealand Symphony Orchestra: NZ's national symphony orchestra, a peer in scale, funding model (Creative NZ and donor support), and audience demographics. Comparable as a national-scale performing arts organisation sharing donor and corporate sponsor pools with Wellington Opera, though different art form.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/wellingtonopera
• Facebookfacebook.com/wellingtonopera
• Instagraminstagram.com/wellingtonoperanz
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wellington-opera

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 wellington opera