Tawhiri is an award-winning charitable company that is the parent company for many Wellington festivals. Executive Director Angela Green, a Shakespeare Globe Centre NZ alumna, gave us an overview on what Tawhiri does including producing the Aotearoa New Zealand Festival of the Arts, the Wellington Jazz Festival, and the Kiri Te Kanawa Song Quest.
Tawhiri is an award-winning charitable company that is the parent company for many Wellington festivals. Executive Director Angela Green, a Shakespeare Globe Centre NZ alumna, gave us an overview on what Tawhiri does including producing the Aotearoa New Zealand Festival of the Arts, the Wellington Jazz Festival, and the Kiri Te Kanawa Song Quest.
Tawhiri Warehouse is a recent addition to their offering, a 1000 sqm theatre space in Newtown, in the Te Whaea complex. It opens in 2026 and is a a mid-size, flexible, accessible theatre and rehearsal venue, available for use by local and touring artists. Tawhiri also provides a set making service.
They have made sets at their Upper Hutt workshop for organisations such as The Wellington Opera company, Auckland Theatre Co, the World of Wearable Arts to name a few. All of this with a staff of 11 busy people!
The Aotearoa New Zealand Festival of the Arts has been going since 1986 and the 2026 festival will be celebrating its 40th anniversary. Angela has been enjoying taking a walk down memory lane and noted the impact the arts in general and the festival in particular, has on people’s hearts souls and minds noting “Creativity is the art of being human”.
Festival Co-Director Tama Waipara NZME, a multi award-winning singer/songwriter composer, tantalised us with snippets from some of the fabulous shows on offer.
• Gloria – A Triple Bill is an epic undertaking collaboration between the New Zealand Dance Company and Co3 Contemporary dance Australia,
• Ara Hura – A Visionary Journey celebrates Karen Grylls, the Yoda of choral, in her final performance as conductor New Zealand Voices
• Voices of the End – John Psathas (Dodi Fayed from the Crown) and Dawn Hardwick a performance about where we are in the world and what is happening around us. Featuring piano and visuals, it is a lot to think about.
• MacBeth, The Royal NZ Ballet, choregraphed by rising Australian star, Alice Topp
• Sound Cathedral where the audience get to walk amongst the performance for true surround sound
• Ten Thousand Hours – Gravity and other Myths, shocking and thrilling acrobatics!
So much good stuff! We better book early.