Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School

Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School ‍We are Toi Whakaari. We stand tall alongside unique people like you, enabling you to express your true creative self. We are Toi Whakaari.

We stand tall alongside unique people like you, enabling you to
express your true creative self. In our creative village, your individuality and passion for the performing arts is shared, celebrated, and nurtured. We care deeply about you and your unique place in our whānau. To us, manaakitanga – care, respect and enhancing each other’s mana – really does matter. Our distinctive learning approach,

built on the mātauranga and tikanga of our whakapapa, enables our tauira to tell their, and our nation’s, unique story. As New Zealand’s premier school of performing arts, our legacy has always been to train the best performers, designers, and craftspeople from here and from around the world. Taught by renown experts and educators with broad industry and community connections, our prestigious qualifications are a mark of quality that opens doors to a successful career. And that’s why our talented alumni are sought after, in front of and behind the scenes, by the world’s leading productions. Being part of our kura is more than just gaining qualifications. Here skills are gained, perspectives are shaped, connections are made, and potential is revealed. We recognise all our students as future rangatira. They emerge from here - knowing who they are and where they stand - ready to add their value to Aotearoa New Zealand’s thriving performing arts community. If you’re a past, present or future tauira; a valued staff member, industry partner or funder; or a member of the many communities we’re part of, we stand with you. We’re proud to take this creative journey with people as unique as you.

10/09/2026

We are so grateful for the support and aroha of Two Paddocks (Two Paddocks Vineyard), founded by the late Sam Neill, in donating this wonderful bottle of wine to our Digital Auction. If you want to show your love for the arts, there’s no better time than now.

🔗 Bid now at galabid.com/toi2026 (Link in bio)

Love The Arts Digital Auction is raising funds for Toi Whakaari students today and the arts industry they’ll shape tomorrow.

Bidding closes 21 September, 2026.

Music: Peachy by Rizensun

Hard-hitting from the first beat to the final blackout. STATIC explores the friction between our internal and external w...
09/09/2026

Hard-hitting from the first beat to the final blackout.

STATIC explores the friction between our internal and external worlds - Stillness, ignition and pure electricity explored through the medium of commercial dance. Join the talented dancers and choreographers of Pōneke in celebrating all things movement, expression and light.

This is a 60-minute showcase of graduating students of the Whitireia & WelTec NZ Diploma In Dance, delivered in partnership with Toi Whakaari, presented in Te Whaea Theatre.

🎭 Static
📍 Te Whaea Theatre, Wellington
📆 23-26 Sep, 7pm (2pm matinee 26 Sep)
🎟️ $15–40
🔗 https://shorturl.at/aKIWS

Vakanuinui vinaka! We're proud and excited to see alumni and past-tutor Emele Ugavule and regular guest tutor Nina Nawal...
09/09/2026

Vakanuinui vinaka! We're proud and excited to see alumni and past-tutor Emele Ugavule and regular guest tutor Nina Nawalowalo as inaugural recipients of the Creative New Zealand Oceania Pacific Arts Residency in Suva, Fiji.

Read more below!

Creative New Zealand, Creative Australia and the Oceania Centre at the University of the South Pacific (USP) are thrilled to announce Emele Ugavule, Ulamila Buiravonu Bulamaibau, and Nina Nawalowalo ONZM for the inaugural Oceania Pacific Arts Residency in Suva, Fiji.

06/09/2026

SPRING AWAKENING 🎸

If you want to catch this award-winning musical, you have until 12 September to witness it for yourself! A phenomenal coming of age story, with incredible performances by up and coming performers from Whitireia & WelTec Musical Theatre and Drama programmes, delivered in partnership with Toi Whakaari.

Don’t miss out! Book your tickets today 🎟️

Content considerations: Abuse themes, domestic violence, depictions of su***de and self-harm, and explicit language.

🎥: Te Mihi Potae

🎭 Spring Awakening
📍 Te Whaea Theatre, Wellington
📆 4–12 Sep, 7.30pm (4pm matinee 6 Sep)
🎟️ $15–40
🔗 https://shorturl.at/n5M5H

OPENING NIGHT 🎸Spring has arrived in Te Whanganui-a-Tara, and what better timing to open Spring Awakening tonight in Te ...
03/09/2026

OPENING NIGHT 🎸

Spring has arrived in Te Whanganui-a-Tara, and what better timing to open Spring Awakening tonight in Te Whaea Theatre! We can't wait to invite you on this rollercoaster ride of adolescence, sexuality and rock music.

📸: ATPhoto ()

🎭 Spring Awakening
📍 Te Whaea Theatre, Wellington
📆 4–12 Sep, 7.30pm (4pm matinee 6 Sep)
🎟️ $15–40
🔗 https://shorturl.at/n5M5H

MEET THE CAST 🥀These talented tauira open Spring Awakening tomorrow night! Come witness this award-winning musical by th...
03/09/2026

MEET THE CAST 🥀

These talented tauira open Spring Awakening tomorrow night! Come witness this award-winning musical by the emerging talent from Musical Theatre and Drama, here at Te Whaea Theatre.

Book your tickets now!

🎭 Spring Awakening
📍 Te Whaea Theatre, Wellington
📆 4–12 Sep, 7.30pm (4pm matinee 6 Sep)
🎟️ $15–40
🔗 https://shorturl.at/n5M5H

Love The Arts Digital Auction | Item Spotlight ✨In a year that has special significance marking the 25th Anniversary of ...
02/09/2026

Love The Arts Digital Auction | Item Spotlight ✨

In a year that has special significance marking the 25th Anniversary of The Lord of the Rings movies, we are delighted to share this iconic Middle-earth 1:6 scale statue from Wētā Workshop's classic series.

With the loss of Gandalf and the breaking of the Fellowship, many would be forgiven for falling to despair, but not Aragorn. Most would call it a fool’s errand, chasing down the roving band of elite Uruk-hai to rescue Merry and Pippin, but not Aragorn.

Brave, tenacious, and kind-hearted, Aragorn proved time again the worth and strength of his character. Solidifying his position as a defender of peace within Middle-earth.

Features:
- 1:6 scale
- Made from high-quality polystone
- Sculpted from clay by Aragorn connoisseur and Master Sculptor, Daniel Cockersell

🔗 Bid now at galabid.com/toi2026

Love The Arts Digital Auction is raising funds for Toi Whakaari students today and the arts industry they'll shape tomorrow.

Bidding closes 21 September, 2026.

We are obsessed with these beautiful production photos from Costume Showcase 2026! 🎉We’re taking a moment to celebrate e...
02/09/2026

We are obsessed with these beautiful production photos from Costume Showcase 2026! 🎉

We’re taking a moment to celebrate each major work creation by our graduating cohort of the NZ Diploma In Costume Construction.

See photo captions for more info! Photography by Alyssa Davenport.

30/08/2026

Spring Awakening opens this week ‼️ Step into the world of our Musical Theatre students, and don’t forget to book your tickets!

🎭 Spring Awakening
📍 Te Whaea Theatre, Wellington
📆 4–12 Sep, 7.30pm (4pm matinee 6 Sep)
🎟️ $15–40
🔗 https://shorturl.at/n5M5H

Address

Te Whaea: National Dance & Drama Centre, 11 Hutchison Road, Newtown
Wellington
6021

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 6pm
Tuesday 8am - 6pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 6pm
Friday 8am - 5pm

Telephone

+6443819215

Alerts

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