The School of Performing Arts is the creative heart of the University. We actively pursue our passions as performers, actors, composers, songwriters, directors; all the while linking our professional practice activities to our research and teaching.
Our mission
Our mission is to engage in high-quality professional practice, research, and research-informed teaching in the many specialised areas on offer.
Music, theatre performing arts and dance are a very important part of our lives: studying these subjects enriches any student's university course and opens the door to lifelong enjoyment. If you want to learn how to express yourself and communicate with others, work in a team, solve problems creatively and gain discipline-specific knowledge, then study with us!
We are committed to fostering an academic environment that is open, inclusive and respectful, with excellence in all activities.
Our research
Our staff are active in traditional scholarship – writing articles, books and book chapters and also active through theatrical, dance and musical performances, compositions and recordings. Many of these are collaborative ventures as staff share their expertise with each other.
Find out about our research activities and publications
Our staff
Go to our academic staff profiles
Our facilities
Our Performing Arts building Te Korokoro o te Tūī incorporates nine purpose-built studios – including a two-storey recording studio – flexible teaching and performance spaces, and communal areas for students to collaborate and showcase their work within a learning environment.