Story perspectives

Wellington Town Hall Reopens, Drax Project Opens National Music Centre

6/17/2026

Summary

Drax Project Opens

Drax Project and Friends with Bret McKenzie will open Wellington Town Hall on 19 June.
$329 million refurbishment, started in 2019 after the 2013 closure, restored the venue’s grade-one heritage status.
Mayor Andrew Little called the reopening a defining cultural moment for the city.
Sir Peter Jackson and Dame Fran Walsh donated $2 million in August for the venue.
The reopening launches the National Music Centre, with tickets going on sale Friday 19 June.

Summary

Town Hall Reopens

The 122-year-old Town Hall will host its first event since its 2013 closure, marking a historic reopening.
Drax Project, which has amassed nearly a billion streams and earned 34 Platinum certifications worldwide, will headline the concert.
Musician Bret McKenzie will open the show with his eight-piece band, The State Highway Wonders.
Eccles Entertainment and The Edge are presenting the concert, providing commercial support for the venue’s reopening.

History

Historical Context

Since Queen Victoria opened the Royal Albert Hall in 1871, it has hosted the BBC Proms each summer (since 1941) and landmark events such as Eurovision 1968. A major renovation from 1996 to 2004, financed by £20 million from the Heritage Lottery Fund and £20 million from Arts Council England, modernized its acoustics, seating and backstage facilities, reinforcing its role as a premier cultural engine.

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Drax Project Opens

Drax Project and Friends with Bret McKenzie will open Wellington Town Hall on 19 June.
$329 million refurbishment, started in 2019 after the 2013 closure, restored the venue’s grade-one heritage status.
Mayor Andrew Little called the reopening a defining cultural moment for the city.
Sir Peter Jackson and Dame Fran Walsh donated $2 million in August for the venue.
The reopening launches the National Music Centre, with tickets going on sale Friday 19 June.

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