Wellington and the NZSO offer a competitive choice of an uncompromisingly high standard…

The NZSO has strong long-term relationships with local post-production facilities and recording venues, access to world-class technology and engineers, and a long recording history on disc, soundtrack, and live-to-air with RNZ (Radio New Zealand.)

We tailor our services to suit the needs of each individual project, with the ability to subcontract our trusted partners in a full solution package or a simple musicians-only agreement. Scoring with NZSO also gives the opportunity to access cash rebates of 20 or 25% of spend, depending on your project’s qualifying expenditure.

We provide:

• Orchestra and ensemble recording of NZSO Players with rates inclusive of doubling and overdubbing

• Access to vocalists and choirs

• Access to experienced orchestra music editors, engineers and operators

• Comprehensive music production coordination

• Studio liaison with partner venues Michael Fowler Centre, Stella Maris Park Road Post and Massey Recording Studios

• Quick and concise quoting

• Project consultation

• Remote & hybrid session capability, including visual feed of orchestra in session

The NZSO utilises world class recording facilities in Wellington:

Here's some more of our work...

We have recorded music for a number of films and games. These include A Minecraft Movie, Saving Bikini Bottom: The Sandy Cheeks Movie, Wish Dragon, The Hobbit, The Lovely Bones, Krampus, Emperor, Escape Plan, Mortal Engines and Titanfall 2, among others. You can view our full works on IMDB.

...and here's what others have to say:

A Minecraft Movie, Warner Bros, is a 2025 American fantasy adventure comedy film based on the 2011 video game Minecraft by Mojang Studios. Shot in Aotearoa New Zealand, A Minecraft Movie smashed box office expectations and became the highest-grossing opening weekend for a movie based on a video game (surpassing 2023’s The Super Mario Bros. Movie.)

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

Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings – The Fellowship of the Ring and The Hobbit – The Desolation of Smaug and The Battle of The Five Armies

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

Saving Bikini Bottom: The Sandy Cheeks Movie (2024) | Nickelodeon | IMDb

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

Wish Dragon (2021) | Sony Pictures | IMDb

They are a full-service film-scoring orchestra, and they're incredible

They are a proper orchestra, and the benefit of working with an orchestra that plays together is that they can come together so quickly as an ensemble. I also think that personality-wise, they're a great fit as an orchestra for a film like this because they're very laid back, they have a lot of fun, but they're incredible, impeccable players.

-Philip Klein, composer Wish Dragon

Mortal Engines (2018) | Universal Pictures | IMDb

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

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

Krampus (2015) | Universal Pictures | IMDb

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

Escape Plan (2013) | Lionsgate | IMDb

I've worked with orchestras all around the world, and this is a unique experience; it's a working symphony orchestra, not a session orchestra. They perform the classical repertoire all the time in this hall, so they're very well balanced and respond incredibly quickly. They know how fast, how slow, how loud, and how soft the music is going to speak together in this room. That makes it a really gratifying experience for me because I don't have to work hard to get the creative response I want; it just sounds great.

-Alex Heffes, composer, Escape Plan

Take advantage of New Zealand’s rebates…

Did you know New Zealand offers cash rebates of up to 40% on screen production, 20% screen post-production, and 20% game sector development — which includes all music scored on shore?

New Zealand Film Commission

The NZ Film Commission offers advice, support and introductions to help your screen production access New Zealand's natural and commercial advantages, including screen incentives.

Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment

The New Zealand Screen Production Grant (NZSPG) for International Productions is part of the New Zealand Government’s screen incentives scheme. This includes the Post, Digital and Visual Effects (PDV) Grant which can be accessed even if no principal photography was on shore.

Screen Wellington

Screen Wellington is a one-stop shop to make filming in Wellington easy. If you want film permits, help to secure studio space, connections with post-production, VFX and mixing facilities or suggestions on locations, Screen Wellington can help.

Game Development Sector Rebate (GDSR)

Administrated by NZ On Air on behalf of Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment, the Game Development Sector Rebate (GDSR) is a financial incentive designed to support the ongoing development and growth of the game development sector in Aotearoa New Zealand.

We want to hear from you…

For further information about recording with the NZSO, including orchestra availability, time frames and quotes, please get in touch by email: Claire Wackrow, clairew@nzso.co.nz.

When enquiring, please provide the following information:

• Ideal dates / timeframe for sessions

• Total minutes of score

• Anticipated ensemble size

• What you would like booked with us (i.e. who of your creative or production team is already attached and likely to be in Wellington for sessions, whether sessions will be entirely remote produced, hybrid, or in person)

• Any creative personnel attached that impact the orchestra (i.e. conductor, composer, orchestrator, record and mix engineer, producer, etc)

A handy compiled reference information about recording with NZSO can be found here: