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Te Ngākau Recording Studios

Opening in February 2027, NZSO's very own Te Ngākau Recording Studios sits within the seismically strengthened and beautifully refurbished Wellington Town Hall, at the heart of Te Ngākau Precinct.

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Opening in February 2027, NZSO's very own Te Ngākau Recording Studios sits within the seismically strengthened and beautifully refurbished Wellington Town Hall, at the heart of Te Ngākau Precinct.

Bringing together the NZSO, the acoustically celebrated Adam Auditorium, and cutting-edge recording facilities, the studios deliver seamless, end-to-end recording services for both symphonic and screen projects.

We're honoured to be gifted the name Te Ngākau — meaning "the heart" — by Taranaki Whānui ki Te Upoko o Te Ika a Māui.

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Scoring for Screen

From bespoke ensembles to a full 90-piece orchestra, the NZSO provides turnkey scoring solutions for film, television and games.

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Commercial Recording

With roots as a broadcast orchestra in 1947 and decades of recording partnerships, the NZSO has been captured on record countless times and has earned prestigious industry awards.

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NZSO Recording Aotearoa

We champion Aotearoa New Zealand’s compositional talent through NZSO Recording Aotearoa, supporting composers and creative teams in ambitious commercial ventures.

"One of the finest orchestras I have worked with is the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra. Having conducted the NZSO for The Hobbit scores, I know firsthand the extraordinary level of musicianship, professionalism and commitment its players bring to every recording session.

For any composer, producer or filmmaker seeking to record an orchestral score efficiently, at the highest artistic and technical level, the combination of the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and Wellington Town Hall deserves the most serious consideration. I recommend them without reservation."

-Conrad Pope, composer, orchestrator, conductor and arranger

"We weren’t sure what to expect flying into Wellington, but the orchestra was outstanding! Great team to work with, and a great working environment. The score was just complicated enough to have some concerns but the NZSO addressed any issues that arose and handled it quickly and professionally. The end result is that we have an amazing sounding score for Minecraft! I would work with the NZSO again on anything and look forward to the next opportunity."

- Mark Mothersbaugh, Composer, A Minecraft Movie

We believe the ability to record here at Massey with New Zealand’s premier orchestra is a key component to the job being brought to Aotearoa. We are immensely proud to be associated with such work and hats off to the local composers for bringing their unique sound to the world!"

– Toi Rauwhārangi College of Creative Arts Project Manager James Coyle on recording music for Saving Bikini Bottom: The Sandy Cheeks Movie

"What is really great about the New Zealand [Symphony] Orchestra is that they got things really quickly. We got a super-high return rate on the time that we recorded to what we got back from them. It was just an amazing collaboration."

-Tom Holkenborg, Composer, Mortal Engines

"The Orchestra immediately played together so beautifully as a group, blending so well together in the hall, while brilliantly performing this challenging score. It is pure joy to have your music recorded by such amazing musicians."

-Douglas Pipes, composer, Krampus

"There is so much talent here in New Zealand. Almost everyone that is sitting in this Orchestra has played their instrument for at least 20 to 40 years. You have 2000 years of musical experience contributing to your film. You would be silly not to take advantage of that many years of passion because that's what people will always recognise. That will never just come out of a box; that will always come from the heart."

-Conrad Pope, Orchestrator and Conductor, Mortal Engines

“The very first music ever recorded for Howard Shore's magnificent score for The Lord of the Rings was done here, in Wellington, back in 2001 in the Town Hall. The piece, written for the Fellowship's journey into the Mines of Moria, was beautifully performed by the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and showcased the exceptional acoustics of this over a hundred-year-old building.”

– Peter Jackson, Director, The Hobbit & Lord of the Rings

Facilites

The spacious central Control Room is designed to comfortably accommodate large teams, with easy pathways linking to the auditorium, a secure entrance lobby, and a raised seating area overlooking the console and three large picture monitors.

The Isolation Room has tuneable panels allowing variable acoustic conditions from very dry to live, to suit the needs of any project. NZSO’s Model D Steinway Piano is easily accessible, and the space is suitable for recording individuals, groups, bands or small ensembles.

The Producers’ Suite is a flexible multi‑purpose space that can be configured as needed: a private lounge area, office desking, catering, or for additional monitoring or engineering requirements.

NZSO’s state‑of‑the‑art recording studios are situated beneath the acoustically renowned Adam Auditorium in the Wellington Town Hall – where early takes of Howard Shore’s iconic Lord of the Rings and full scores for Hobbit films The Desolation of Smaug and The Battle of the Five Armies were recorded.

Technical Capability

LAWO MC2 96 and MC2 56 Grand Production Consoles powered by 2 x UHD Cores providing 768 x 2 DSP channels, ATC 7.1.4 monitoring, 3 x Pro Tools Ultimate on Mac Pros, Integrated control system incorporating comms, vision control, lighting control, signage, Pro Tools timers, and recording status. Microphone stock of 100+ units, including AEA, Beyer, Coles, DPA, Neumann, Rode, Royer, Sanken, Schoeps, Sennheiser and Shure.

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Learn more

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013) | Warner Bros.

Scoring for Screen

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Escape Plan (2013) | Lionsgate

Scoring for Screen

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Cirque du Soleil: Worlds Away (2012)

Scoring for Screen

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Emperor (2012) | Roadside Attractions

Scoring for Screen

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Sibelius: Symphonies Nos. 1 & 3 (2010) | NAXOS

Commercial Recording

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The Lovely Bones (2009) | Paramount Pictures

Scoring for Screen

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Lilburn: Orchestra Works (2006) | NAXOS

Commercial Recording

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ENZSO (1996) | Spilt Enz

Commercial Recording

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Matt Jones

Principal Audio Engineer

Claire Wackrow

Recordings and Commercial Ventures

In the cultural heart of Wellington, Te Ngākau Recording Studios is a new home for orchestral recording and a commercial destination for artists, ensembles and production partners.

As a UNESCO City of Film, Wellington is recognised as the best place in Aotearoa to learn about, create, and engage with film and the screen industry.

Located in the centre of the city, the studios are a 15-minute drive from the airport and within easy walking distance of shops, cafés, restaurants, accommodation and Wellington’s major cultural venues.

NZSO Head Office

NZSO Head OfficeLevel 1, Findex House, 57 Willis Street, Wellington Central, Wellington 6011

P.O. Box 6640, Wellington 6141, New Zealand

Te Ngākau Recording Studios

Te Whare Whakarauika Wellington Town Hall 109-111 Wakefield Street, Wellington Central, Wellington 6011

For further information about recording with the NZSO, including orchestra availability, time frames and quotes, please get in touch by email.

clairew@nzso.co.nz

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Te Ngākau Recording Studios

Opening in February 2027, NZSO's very own Te Ngākau Recording Studios sits within the seismically strengthened and beautifully refurbished Wellington Town Hall, at the heart of Te Ngākau Precinct.

Studio services

Scoring for Screen

Commercial Recording

NZSO Recording Aotearoa

We believe the ability to record here at Massey with New Zealand’s premier orchestra is a key component to the job being brought to Aotearoa. We are immensely proud to be associated with such work and hats off to the local composers for bringing their unique sound to the world!"

"What is really great about the New Zealand [Symphony] Orchestra is that they got things really quickly. We got a super-high return rate on the time that we recorded to what we got back from them. It was just an amazing collaboration."

"The Orchestra immediately played together so beautifully as a group, blending so well together in the hall, while brilliantly performing this challenging score. It is pure joy to have your music recorded by such amazing musicians."

Facilites

Our work

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013) | Warner Bros.

Escape Plan (2013) | Lionsgate

Cirque du Soleil: Worlds Away (2012)

Emperor (2012) | Roadside Attractions

Sibelius: Symphonies Nos. 1 & 3 (2010) | NAXOS

The Lovely Bones (2009) | Paramount Pictures

Lilburn: Orchestra Works (2006) | NAXOS

ENZSO (1996) | Spilt Enz

Meet the team

Matt Jones

Claire Wackrow

In the cultural heart of Wellington, Te Ngākau Recording Studios is a new home for orchestral recording and a commercial destination for artists, ensembles and production partners.

Location

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