Our goal is to provide our community with the Best Performing Arts Centre & Live Music Venue in the country.

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Take to the stage at one of our prestigious MauaoPAC Student Concerts! Students' 'cut their teeth' on the same stage as national and international touring acts.

News

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We believe the benefit from being taught a craft by someone who is skilled, educated and uses their talent within the community is second to none. All our tutors are involved in a number of different aspects within the music and performance industries.

Bands, solo projects, recording and production experience enable them to bring a wealth of knowledge to their lessons. Focusing on technique, theory and live performance ensures that, with enough practice, students progress in leaps and bounds. Mauao Performing Arts Centre's mission is to provide a fun and educational experience that gets results and keeps students interested and keen to learn more. 

Students grow and work towards taking to the awesome TOTARA ST stage at one of our prestigious student concerts. One of the great benefits of learning with MauaoPAC is that students get to experience performing in a safe and supportive environment alongside other artists and on the same stage as international touring acts and some of New Zealand's best-known performers.

Founded in 2010, Mauao Performing Arts Centre is comprised of five teaching studios, a recording studio, waiting room, reception, commercial kitchen and a 420 capacity performance space named TOTARA ST.

Since inception there have been many upgrades and adjustments made to provide the community with the best facilities possible. We provide one-on-one private tuition, group drama classes, a school holiday DJ Academy, special needs workshops and the MauaoPAC Contemporary Choir.

With a raft of activity going on under one roof, MauaoPAC provides musicians, students and families with a creative hub. Taking into account the diverse variety of shows and events that occur in the TOTARA ST performance space, the Centre plays host to all walks of life within our amazing and talented community.

Coming Events

All live music fans...

Step into the Realm of the Underground ,from Mt Maunganui.

An Assortment of different styles come together to put on a show at TOTARA ST on November 22nd.

In one show experience 6 bands with POP, FUNK ,ROCK ,PUNK, METAL acts making their way in the music scene.

Come support local music!

Tauranga!! Get your boots on, ‘cause Round Up! is rollin’ into town with the rootenest tootenest Country Music Club Night around!

We’ll have our DJs spinnin’ all your favourite country bands and artists from Luke Combs to Dolly Parton, Kacey Musgraves to Morgan Wallen + everything in between!

Jump on these tickets now, because they'll be Going Going Gone real soon 🤠

In 2020 Hamilton musicians club “Head Hands and Feet” staged a reunion concert. As part of that drummer Neil Reynolds put a show together featuring Tauranga based Chris Gunn’s vocals backed up by musicians from various lineups that had all worked together in one form or another over the years. It was very successful with the horn section providing punch and lift behind Chris’s powerful and gravelly vocal. After Covid lockdowns finished, it was decided to revisit the concept and put a permanent lineup together. All that was missing was a soulful female vocalist, and along came Georgia Brill, recently returned from Australia, and the RetroGroove picture was complete.

Thabani Gapara returns to Tatara Street for a night of unforgettable music on his "Dzindza" tour.

"Dzindza"—which means "Roots" in his mother tongue, Shona—is a tribute to his cultural heritage. It’s a personal journey through Thabani’s roots, blending traditional African rhythms with fresh, contemporary influences. After captivating audiences across Aotearoa, this is your chance to experience the vibrant energy, rhythm, and soul of "Dzindza" live at Tatara Street . Be part of this special night!

Established Kiwi icon Ladi6 is set to re-establish herself in the music scene by releasing her highly anticipated single, Alofa. The track will be available on all major streaming platforms starting on her birthday on Nov 7th, 2024 with her nationwide tour starting the next day in her hometown of Otautahi, Christchurch alongside her long-time collaborators and producers of "Alofa," Brent ‘Parks’ Park-Tamati and Brandon ‘Bharu’ Haru.

Landslide is a 5-piece live band, who have been celebrating the music of Fleetwood Mac and Stevie Nicks for the past 11yrs, covering classics from Fleetwood Mac alongside a few of Stevie's solo hits!

Expect to hear Dreams, Sara, Rhiannon, Go Your Own Way, Seven Wonders, Don't Stop, Edge of 17, Tusk, Gypsy, Black Magic Woman, Rooms on Fire, The Chain, Little Lies etc....to name just a few!

After 5 years of playing shows, releasing music, and touring the North Island, Tauranga Indie Rock Band Marmalade Skies is officially coming to an end.

The boys have decided to host one last goodbye party at Totara Street on Friday, the 6th of December.

Come celebrate with them and sing your favourite Marmalade Skies songs for the very last time.

Proudly brought to you by The Wright Family Foundation, come and enjoy an afternoon of musical treats at 2024's final installment of College Co+Labs @ TOTARA ST.

Upcoming College acts from around the Bay take to the TOTARA ST stage and present an action packed event with music spanning across multiple genres. With the support from Papamoa College and the Mauao Performing Arts Centre, come and check out some amazing upcoming talent.

Tantay, which means 'encounter' in Quechua, embodies the essence of cultural diversity and celebrates the beauty of coming together through music.

Join us for a night full of rhythm, dance, and pure fun as three incredible bands take the stage:

Guitardeon will captivate with their unique blend of voice, guitar, and accordion, drawing inspiration from the vibrant sounds of Argentine folklore, Uruguayan dance, and beyond.

Welcome back to another round of musical action put on by the students at the Mauao Performing Arts Centre.

We are deep into the swing of things at the centre and there are some great songs being learned and skills getting honed in. Come and check out what all the fuss is about on Sunday the 15th of December for our End of Year Student Concert!

Free Entry | Everyone Welcome

“A Night Of" is coming to TOTARA STREET.

Our show has been all over Tauranga at many different venues, and we are ready to give you the biggest show yet!

A combination of Entertainment and Cabaret, our show captivates its audience with intimate routines, seduction, fun, and talent!

“Get ready to rock ‘n roll all night and party every day with New Zealand’s most electrifying tribute show the NZ KISS Experience!

As New Zealand’s answer to the hottest band in the world! KISS, we bring you all the iconic makeup, full-throttle costumes, and legendary stage theatrics that fans crave. With blazing renditions of classics like ‘I Was Made for Lovin’ You’ and ‘Detroit Rock City’, this high-energy spectacle will leave you shouting for more! Feel the heat, see the spectacle, and experience a KISS tribute like never before.

It’s a fact.

It’s in the dictionary…

ESPECIALLY ON NEW YEARS EVE...

The 31st of December sees an all time 80’s dance takeover at TOTARA ST. Rally the troops, drag those 80’s outfits outta the closet, do your stretches and get ready to dance the night away in full 80’s fashion.

This one goes out to all those girls out there that just want to HAVE FUN :)

Fresh off another sell out winter tour, the live powerhouse that is SUMMER THIEVES brings the heat this summer sure to make the drinks flow and the vibes grow.

With the brand new single Just Dont Know out on the 29th of November and the extensive back catalogue of summer bangers you are sure to be grooving and moving. The lads are feeling lean and mean ready to bring the absolute heat this summer!

Three of the biggest names in live comedy descend on the Mount for two shows this summer.

Stars of Taskmaster and 7 Days Dai Henwood, Justine Smith and Ben Hurley all combine for a huge night of rockin' night of summer laughs. A ticket is a perfect Christmas gift, don 't miss out, these shows always sell out!

The DOORS LIVE keep alive the magical legends of The DOORS.

Enjoy being transported back in time as all the favourite hits from THE DOORS are performed in a 2.5 hour show

Setlist includes - Light My Fire, Break on Through, Riders on The Storm, People Are Strange, L.A. Woman, The End, Roadhouse Blues and much more.

 

Rock

I AM GIANT Return for a Historic One-Off Tour

New Zealand, get ready! Legendary Kiwi rock band I Am Giant are officially back for one last explosive ride. After nearly a decade apart, the original lineup will reunite for an unmissable, one-off New Zealand tour. Presented by Jack Daniel's, this tour will see I Am Giant perform their debut album, The Horrifying Truth, from start to finish, in its entirety—a powerful, raw journey through the album that made them a household name.

Produced by Dave Khan and Simon Gooding, How Love Bends showcases Reb’s poetic depth and her signature sound. Alongside her longtime band members Dave Khan (guitar/keys), Karin Canzek (bass), and Earl Robertson (drums) they’ve crafted an album that dives into the transformative nature of love in all its forms—its tenderness, its power, its chaos.

Join the MauaoPAC family. Get the low down on lessons, shows, specials and giveaways!

Latest News

Proudly brought to you by The Wright Family Foundation, come and enjoy an afternoon of musical treats at 2024's second instalment of College Co+Labs @ TOTARA ST.

Upcoming College acts from around the Bay take to the TOTARA ST stage and present an action packed event with music spanning across multiple genres.

With the support from Papamoa College and the Mauao Performing Arts Centre, come and check out some amazing upcoming talent.

Mata ‘Eyes’ Ariki : ‘High Chief or God’ : MATARIKI

This upcoming 8 date tour is in celebration of Matariki, the Māori New Year and to showcase Rei’s latest album Ariki. Traveling through Aotearoa, from Tāmaki to Te Wai Pounamu, Rei can’t wait to share his waiata kanikani (dance music) and party with the people.

His last tour was for his award-winning album ‘The Bridge’. Always in mahi hard mode, Rei has dropped 3 new albums since then, played across the world, won 3 Māori music awards, earning millions of streams and radio hits since this tour… but nothing beats performing to your home country. Rei’s Matariki tour will start with local support acts, followed by Rei’s full high energy set, topped off with a DJ set featuring remixed te reo music.