Our board member and national treasure Witi Ihimaera DCNZM QSM kindly agreed to read his poem ‘Our Watch Now’ on camera for us. Opera in New Zealand will begin to look different as we embark on a new strategic direction and implement our new purpose and values – this poem reminds us that the future is in the hands of all of us – it’s our watch now.

OUR PURPOSE – to enrich the cultural life of Aotearoa through an experience of opera that connects, engages and inspires reflection on our human condition. He whakarangatira i te oranga ahurea o Aotearoa mā te whakakite i te puoro whakaari e tūhono nei, e toro nei, e whakaawe nei i te huringa o ngā whakaaro ki te āhua o te ira tangata.

OUR AMBITION – to lead opera from Aotearoa in a way that reimagines the art form, embraces the cultural and social identities of our diverse communities, and ensures a vibrant and sustainable presence for opera in New Zealand. He ārahi i te puoro whakaari i Aotearoa kia kitea rerekētia ai tēnei tū toi, kia awhitia ai ngā tuakiri ā-ahurea, ā-pāpori hoki o ō tātou hapori kanorau, ā, kia ora ia, kia toitū ai hoki te puoro whakaari i Aotearoa.

Read the 2020 season brochure.