14 February 2025
Hon Nicola Willis
Finance Minister
Minister for Economic Growth
Hon Penny Simmons
Minister for Tertiary Education
CC: Mark Oldershaw, Executive Director Tumu Whenua a-rohe 3
Dear Hon. Nicola Willis and Hon. Penny Simmonds
I am writing to express the deep concern of myself and others at recent reports that Te Kāhui
Auaha - the Weltec/Whitirea campus in Wellington may be forced to close at the end of this
year.
I know that your Government wants to support skills training and the creative economy. That’s
why I implore you to pause any decision on the future of Te Auaha and sit down with our city’s
creative sector leaders to find a sustainable solution that keeps Te Auaha open as an important
hub for students and the arts.
Since it opened, Te Auaha has become a vital part of Wellington’s creative economy and cultural
fabric. It has attracted thousands of students to Wellington and produced skilled emerging arts
practitioners who have gone on to perform in and support our theatre, film, comedy and wider
arts sector.
Te Auaha’s programmes and graduates are well regarded by many of our leading arts
organisations and creative businesses. Fringe Festival, which attracts tens of thousands of
visitors every year, believes it would not be possible to hold its events without the pipeline of
amazing students and graduates from Te Auaha.
I understand that student enrolments have declined in recent years and this has impacted the
viability of programmes at Te Auaha. However, rather than close Te Auaha, the government
under the Official Information Act 1982
should be investing in improving its promotion and programmes to increase enrolments. We
would like the opportunity to discuss how Weltec/Whtirea can better engage and collaborate
with the creative sector in Wellington to help promote Te Auaha’s programmes.
Te Auaha is also a vital venue for arts in the city. It is home to the Kia Mai Arts Festival, New
Zealand Fringe Festival, DAFT Arts Festival and NZ International Comedy Festival. What the
future of these much-loved events looks like without Te Auaha is unclear.
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Wellington’s economy has been battered by public sector job cuts over the past year. It is more
important now than ever to invest in diversification so we can grow our economy and be more
resilient.
The creative sector is a key part of that strategy. It contributes $2.1bn to our economy and the
sector’s growth of 4.1% far outstrips other sectors. This is exactly the kind of economic growth
that your government has set out to support.
There is a clear strategic case to invest in Te Auaha so its programmes and events are
successful and can contribute more to the city’s culture and economy. To close it now would be
a blow felt across all the creative industries in Wellington’s economy and cultural life at large.
Enclosed along with this, are letters from dozens of Wellington creative businesses,
organisations and Te Auaha graduates. They each make a compelling case for investing in Te
Auaha as a critical venue for events and pipeline for skilled practioners.
I request that you meet with myself and some of the organisations who have also written to
discuss what impacts Te Auaha’s closure will have on Wellington and what opportunities exist
to attract more students and ensure it is a long-term sustainable part of our creative eco-
system.
Ngā mihi,
Mayor Tory Whanau
under the Official Information Act 1982
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Wellington City Council | 2 of 4
Please find attached letters of support to save Te Auaha from:
Vanessa Stacey
Creative Capital Arts Trust
Nic Marshall
Square Eyes Screen Foundation
Loveaiya Smith-Cootes
Alumni
Rachel Main
Director and Founder of Arts a Go Go!
Performing Arts School for Kids
Rachel McSweemey
Alumni and Performer
RV Quijano
Alumni
Cliff Roberston
Aumni
Willa McLachlan
Alumni
Rachel
Alumni
Nick Lerew
Alumni
Molly O’Hagan
Alumni
Margaret Milne
Parent of Graduate
Macka Htay
Alumni
Dr Kerryn Palmer
Paypa: Performing Arts and Young People
Aotearoa
Deirdre Tarrant
Founder of Footnote NZ Dance, Principal
Tarrant Dancers
Jo Randerson
Creative Director, Barbarian Productions
Tanya Muagututi’a MNZM
Director, Pacific Underground
Miria George
Co-Director, Tawata Productions
Marilyn Mansilla
Alumni and Port Nicholson Scholarship
under the Official Information Act 1982
Winner
Dennis Lim
Concerned Community Member
Nicola Hyland
Program Director, Theatre and Performance
Studies, Victoria University of Wellington
Capital Theatre Trust
Trustees Capital Theatre Trust
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AJ Feist
Member of the Arts Community
Wellington Footlights Society
Wellington Footlights Society
Joel Baxendale
Binge Culture
Gabby Anderson
Comedian
Wellington City Council | 3 of 4
Raureti Ormond
Alumni
Jade Merematira
Concerned Community Member
Malia Johnston
Creative Director, Movement of the Human
Natasha James
Production Manager and Light Designer
Michael Vinten
President, NZ Opera Society
Sarah Griffiths
Director People and Culture, Royal New
Zealand Ballet
Sally Richards
Festival Director and Producer, Tahi Festival
Members of the Toi o Taraika Arts Wellington
Arts Wellington Group
Board
Hannah Smith and Ralph McCubbin Howell
Creative Directors, Trick of Light Theatre
under the Official Information Act 1982
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Wellington City Council | 4 of 4
