New home news

We are pleased to share an important update for our Toi Pōneke casual hirers as we prepare for the opening of Toi Pōneke Arts Centre at Market Lane later this year.

Bookings for hireable spaces at Toi Pōneke Market Lane will open on 2 March, ahead of our much-anticipated public opening in June. The fit-out is full steam ahead and remains on track.

Toi Pōneke at Market Lane is Wellington City Council’s new creative arts centre, developed to support professional artists, creative practitioners, and community participation across Te Whanganui-a-Tara. It builds on the long-standing legacy of Toi Pōneke

As part of our preparations, we’re pleased to confirm the following rooms:

Hireable spaces

The new arts centre will include the following purpose-designed hireable spaces, available from 29 June 2026:

Dance Studio 1 — 58m²
Dance Studio 2 — 74m²
Combined Dance Studio — 132m²
Multi-Purpose Studio (Drama / Classroom / Workshop / Wānanga) — 103m²
Small Presentation Space — 23m²
Nau Mai | Pōwhiri Space (Performance / Classroom/ Workshop / Wānanga) — 84m²
Multipurpose Event Space (Bullnose) — 134m², including kitchen facilities
Hot desks

These spaces are designed to support rehearsal, creative development, workshops, wānanga, performance, presentations, exhibitions, and events.

Hire rates

Users will be able to book spaces using indicative hire rates provided at the time of booking. As a Wellington City Council facility, Toi Pōneke is committed to keeping hire rates accessible and affordable for our creative community. These initial rates are provisional and subject to Council’s Annual Plan review, Councillor consideration, and public engagement.

The creative sector and wider community will have an opportunity to provide feedback in April 2026, before final rates are confirmed in June 2026. Final, Council-approved rates will take effect from 1 July 2026. We warmly encourage your participation in this process.

Booking system

Bookings for Market Lane spaces will open on 2 March 2026 through the current Toi Pōneke reception booking system as an interim arrangement.

A centralised, public online booking system for Council-wide casual hire is currently in development and will be introduced for Toi Pōneke bookings later in the year. In the meantime, bookings will continue through the existing reception system to ensure continuity and equitable access.

Booking priorisiation

To uphold the creative kaupapa of Market Lane, priority will be given to bookings from artists, creative practitioners, and kaupapa aligned with our moemoeā “Catalyst for the Growth & Development of Wellington Artists” and our Tuakana Teina Kaupapa. Where spaces are not booked close to use dates, they may be made available for broader community use. This approach honours both our sector responsibilities and the mātauranga embedded in our new whare.