nau mai, haere mai ki toi pōneke
E rere ana ngā mihi ki ngā mana whenua o Te Whanganui-a-Tara – ngā rangatira o te hau, te whenua, me te tai. Ka whakatata mai te whānau auaha i raro i te marino o te moana, i raro hoki i te korowai o te moemoeā. Ko te whare toi tēnei – he whare i whakairohia e te ngākau, e te toi, e te kotahitanga. Nau mai ki tō tātou kāinga hou – kei te pae o te tai, e rere tonu ana te wairua auaha.
Our deepest acknowledgements flow to the mana whenua of Te Whanganui-a-Tara – guardians of the winds, the land, and the tide. The creative whānau now gather beneath the calm of the harbour and beneath the cloak of a shared vision. This is the art centre – a place carved from heart, from art, and from unity. Welcome to our new home – where the spirit of creativity rises with the tide.
Welcome to the Future of The Arts centre
We’re excited to announce that Toi Pōneke Arts Centre has found a new whare at 3-6 Market Lane, Wellington. We will be occupying a portion of the building on the corner of Cable Street and Market Lane. This highly visible, centrally located property is just across from the Waterfront and near Te Ngākau Civic Square, forming a key part of the city’s creative spine.
Toi Pōneke Arts Centre is grounded in mana whenua kawa and tīkanga, and operates as a Tīriti-led facility. Toi Pōneke activities align with the outcomes of Council’s Tākai Here partnership agreement and Tūpiki Ora Māori Strategy, and everything that Toi Pōneke does contributes to the outcomes of the Aho Tini 2030 Arts, Culture and Creativity Strategy.
Toi Pōneke also visibly operates as a Wellington City Council facility aligned with the outcomes in Te Awe Māpara Community Facilities Plan 2023 and will always be inclusive and physically accessible for all communities.
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toi - art
whare - house, building
mana whenua - sovereign people
kawa - policies
tikanga - protocols
pōneke - shortened from the term pō nekeneke, refering to the history of moving under the protection of the night
moemoeā (vision) and kaupapa
Kauia Moriarty – Ngāti Toa Rangatira, Aho Hononga Exhibition 2024 at Toi Pōneke
The re-imagined Toi Pōneke Moemoeā (Vision) is:
He kaiwhakatere i te tupu me te whanaketanga o ngā ringatoi o Te Whanganui-a-Tara
A catalyst for the growth and development of Wellington artists
The Kaupapa of our new Toi Pōneke is to create a vibrant space that nurtures collaboration, creativity and cultural exchange among artists of all generations using the Tuakana-Teina model.
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The re-imagined Toi Pōneke vision is defined as a dynamic space to support artists to develop and grow.
Toi Pōneke will be a hub of energy that provides a place for artists at all stages of their career to develop and grow and eventually transition to new opportunities.
It will achieve this by offering limited term rental agreements and by using the Tuakana-Teina Kaupapa to connect artists with support from senior practitioners.
To deliver on the vision, three focus areas that are essential for success have been identified:
An ecosystem of creatives, with a focus on the kaupapa of creating a diverse community that supports each other
A dynamic and actively managed space that optimises its use while meeting the diverse needs of its users
A supportive community that offers artists and practitioners the guidance, mentorship and connections needed to help them progress in their practice
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The Toi Pōneke Tuakana-Teina Kaupapa encourages reciprocal learning, mentorship, and collaboration between experienced artists or organisations (Tuakana) and emerging or less experienced artists or organisations (Teina), with a focus on nurturing the mauri (vitality) of both individuals and the arts community and growing the artists career.
Tuakana refers to the more experienced artist or organisation, who provides guidance, shares knowledge, and helps strengthen the mauri and the career pathway of the Teina through positive and supportive engagement.
Teina refers to the emerging artist or organisation, who receives mentorship and support while also contributing reciprocally, offering fresh ideas and energy that support the well-being of the arts community.
Central to this kaupapa are the principles of whanaungatanga (relationships) and manaakitanga (caring for others), fostering a thriving, interconnected arts ecosystem where the mauri of the community is uplifted through shared growth and learning with a focus on nurturing the mauri (vitality) of both individuals and the arts community and growing the artists careers.
He wāhi i hangā mō te kaupapa | a purpose-designed space
Market Lane is a seismically sound, character property with high stud heights and plenty of natural light. Toi Pōneke will offer 1,959m² of floor area across three levels, featuring:
Artist studios
Arts offices, and a workshop
Multi-purpose spaces, including dance studios and drama spaces
Cultural space
Dedicated gallery space, and display space throughout the building
We are moving to 3-6 Market Lane – a portion of the property located on the corner of Cable Street and Market Lane.
He anamata pūkeke, whakarerekē hoki | A flexible and sustainable future
While the new building is smaller than our current premises, it is designed for multipurpose use, accommodating a variety of art forms. We’re confident this space will allow Toi Pōneke to continue fostering a vibrant and interconnected arts community.
The re-imagining of Toi Pōneke carefully considered the presence of other arts providers and facilities across the city, acknowledging that a Council-operated arts centre cannot meet all sector needs. The new model ensures that Toi Pōneke continues to play a significant role in supporting Wellington’s creative ecosystem, while operating within the financial parameters set out in the 2024-34 Council’s Long-term Plan.
Ngā rā matua | Key Dates
27 August 2025 – Applications open: 9 artist studios, 7 arts offices, 1 workshop space (Market Lane).
28 September 2025 – Applications close.
November 2025 – Applicants notified of outcome (short-listed applicants will be interviewed prior).
May 2026 – Tenants move into Market Lane - date will be confirmed alongside application process.
Early June 2026 – Final day for tenants, users and business as usual at Abel Smith Street, followed by a whakamoe.
June 2026 – Market Lane opening ceremony, hireable spaces available.
Ngā tono noho mō ngā wāhi i tō tātou whare hou | Tenancy applications for spaces in our new whare
Applications for licensed rental spaces (artist studios, offices, a workshop) in our new premises, will open 27 August 2025. Visit our website from 27 August for details of the spaces, application details, and the online application form.
Applications close 28 September 2025.
Applications must align with our Tuakana-Teina Kaupapa and one or more of the Aho Tini 2030 Strategy focus areas.
Applications will be open to arts organisatons, and artists residing in the Wellington region.
Titiro whakamua | Looking ahead
The lease at Abel Smith Street has been extended until June 2026, ensuring business as usual during the transition to Market Lane. As we celebrate our 20th birthday in September this year, the Market Lane 20-year lease ensures that the service will continue to provide support to Wellington creatives. This milestone marks a significant commitment to fostering creativity and collaboration within the arts community.
As we prepare for our opening in June 2026, we’ll be sharing updates here about our new programmes and hireable spaces. We look forward to welcoming Wellington’s creative community to our new home and the exciting possibilities ahead!