Tāwhiri Warehouse is a 1000m2 warehouse-style venue space in Newtown, in the Te Whaea complex.

It is available to hire from 2026 for performances, rehearsals, workshops or other creative activities. It looks much better than in the photo above! It's all painted black and now has a nice smooth floor with black hard rubber tiling.

What’s the vision for the Warehouse

Tāwhiri has been making improvements to the space over time, towards our dream of converting it into a mid-size, flexible, accessible theatre and rehearsal venue, something the Wellington arts sector has desperately needed for many years.

Once it opens early 2026, we hope it will be regularly used by Wellington arts sector and touring artists for creation, rehearsals, workshops and performances. We plan to use it to present some events in our Festivals: Aotearoa New Zealand Festival of the Arts and Wellington Jazz Festival.

What’s the space like

This is a warehouse. It looks and feels like one. It’s a big open space with a high roof. Full venue specs are here.

There is hard-wearing black rubber tiling on top of a bitumen and tongue and groove wooden floor.

Venue information

  • Floor dimensions: 38m long x 35m wide
  • Height to ceiling : 9m height at centre apex and 6m height at outer walls
  • Accessible toilet facilities: 1x accessible toilet backstage and 3x accessible toilets in new toilet block.
  • Mezzanine floor with small kitchenette and communal area (fridge, sink, dishwasher), basic production office.
  • Air-conditioning/heating
  • Trussing and stage hoists
  • Rehearsal PA
  • Performance PA
  • Theatrical drape stock
  • Push up drape system
  • Wifi
  • Power
  • Folding tables and chairs
  • Free, non-reserved carparking as part of the overall Te Whaea complex.
  • Venue/technical/FOH staff can be provided (cost charged to you).

How can I hire it and what does it cost

Email us to enquire. We will get in touch and have a quick chat about what your requirements are.

Hire rates will depend on what you need, the purpose of the hire, and the length of booking.

Priority will be given to users undertaking artistic and creative projects.

What we’re doing next

  • Giving the backstage area a spruce up and creating pop-up dressing rooms (complete)
  • Interior painting to achieve a theatrical blackout (complete)
  • Installing an accessible shower (by Dec 2025)
  • Installing new flooring (underway)
  • Installing HVAC system (underway)
  • Building new toilet facilities for audience use (underway)
  • Upgrading the front doors and roller door (underway)
  • Sourcing a retractable seating block with 408 seats (underway)
  • Fundraising for a lighting system (ongoing)

All timings are subject to change.

The Council, in a separate project, have recently replaced the roof and external wall cladding.

Who has helped us so far

We have been supported by Wellington City Council, Studio Pacific Architecture, New Zealand Lottery Grants Board, Make Strategy Happen and George's Truffles and private donors.

In the original scoping of the Tāwhiri Warehouse we are grateful for the support and expertise of Studio Pacific Architecture, Beca, LT McGuinness, Balanced Investments, Arts Access Aotearoa, Make Strategy Happen and Meg Williams.

In the building and construction phase of the project, thank you to: Colin Robertson, Duncan Commercial, Beca, Fantail, Certa, Andrew McKay, Fire HQ, Switchboard Solutions, YOOCrew, The Floor Store, Illumination & Optics, Tungsten, Tāwhiri Workshop.

What is the history of the space and site?

The area where Tāwhiri Warehouse and the Te Whaea buildings stand were once a part of a great plantation of cultivated gardens that started from Pukeahu and extended north-west to current day Aro Valley and south to current day Newtown.

In the late 1800s/early 1900s, it was used as a rubbish tip.

In 1928 new buildings were erected as a permanent site for the Winter Show, an annual trade show and over time the buildings were also used for concerts, circus, performances. In World War 2 it was temporarily a military training base.

In 1996 the Wellington City Council took over ownership. It is currently independently managed by Te Whaea Services Charitable Trust and sits within an arts complex including Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School, New Zealand School of Dance and Circus Hub.

Prior to Tāwhiri’s use, the space housed Capital Gymnastics, who have since moved to another spot in the complex.