02 · GALLERY
Five frames.
The Aotea Centre opened in 1990 as Auckland's postmodern statement on civic architecture. The 2,139-seat main theatre was renamed in 2021 in honour of Kiri Te Kanawa, the Māori soprano whose career put New Zealand on the international opera map. The auditorium is curved, clad in warm timber, with the country's largest scenery dock backstage. The Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra records here. The recently refurbished foyer features a Māori carved relief by Selwyn Muru that is worth the trip an hour early.
Arrive an hour early to see the Selwyn Muru Māori carved relief in the foyer.
Renaming for Kiri Te Kanawa is editorial gold. The room itself is solid postmodern craft.
Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra Thursday and Saturday subscription concerts. NZ Opera's main-stage season runs across the spring and autumn. Te Matatini Māori kapa haka festival every two years features here.
Box office Monday to Saturday 10:00 to 18:00. Performances most evenings. Auckland Live tours of the building on selected days.
Auckland Train Network to Britomart, ten-minute walk south via Queen Street. From Auckland Airport, 45 minutes by SkyDrive bus to Britomart. The Aotea Centre faces Aotea Square in central Auckland.