Caption: From left, NZSO Board Chair Carmel Walsh, Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith and NZSO Chief Executive Marc Feldman visit Wellington Town Hall

Government funding towards completion of the NZSO’s fitout in the new National Music Centre was celebrated in June by a visit to the construction site in Wellington Town Hall by Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith.

The National Music Centre, which includes the Town Hall, is a unique collaboration between the NZSO, Victoria University of Wellington’s New Zealand School of Music—Te Kōkī and Wellington City Council.

The Minister, accompanied by the NZSO’s new Chief Executive Marc Feldman and NZSO Board Chair Carmel Walsh, were shown progress on the NZSO’s facilities, including a state-of-the-art recording studio which is being completed in the Town Hall basement.

The Government announced in the 2025 Budget an additional $2 million towards the NZSO’s fitout.

During the visit, the Minister and accompanying media were also shown progress on the Town Hall auditorium where live performances, including NZSO concerts, will resume after the extensive seismic strengthening and upgrade of the Town Hall is completed.