New Town Hall base for city's orchestra

APO members Chun Lai and Bella Zilber move into the Town Hall. Photo / Adrian Malloch

The Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra is coming home.

The redevelopment of the Aotea Quarter into an entertainment and cultural hub takes a step forward as the APO moves into the Auckland Town Hall, which is already its performing home, on Tuesday.

It will occupy space left vacant by Auckland Council on level one, while APO subscribers will be able to book and collect tickets from the new ticketing office on the lower ground floor.

The move follows months of discussions with Auckland Council and Regional Facilities Auckland (RFA), the umbrella organisation for Auckland Art Gallery, Auckland Conventions, Auckland Live, Auckland Stadiums and Auckland Zoo.

APO Chief Executive Barbara Glaser says it will open up opportunities for Auckland's fulltime professional orchestra, strengthening accessibility to audiences and supporters and increasing potential for collaborations with other arts organisations.

It also supports Auckland Council's proposed initiative to redevelop Aotea Quarter into an entertainment and cultural hub, announced in September.

Urban regeneration agency Panuku Development Auckland is looking for private investors to refurbish council's Civic Administration Building, at 1 Greys Ave, and develop the surrounding land. Plans include a new, permanent and purpose-built facility for the APO in the Aotea Quarter.

The APO's office phone numbers, including the number for the ticketing office, remain the same.