Ballet Means Business

Royal New Zealand Ballet delivers $29 million boost to New Zealand economy.

Macbeth by the Royal New Zealand Ballet, photographed 24 February 2026, Wellington, NZ. Choreography by Alice Topp. Photo credit: Stephen A’Court.

Alongside bringing live performance and creativity to audiences across New Zealand, a recent independent economic impact assessment has confirmed the Royal New Zealand Ballet (RNZB) generates jobs, supports businesses and makes a measurable contribution to the national economy.

Conducted by independent economic consultancy BERL, the assessment for 2025 (which followed one completed in 2024 which drew on 2023 data) showed the RNZB contributed an estimated $29 million to the New Zealand economy.

In 2025, the RNZB had direct expenditure of $13.9m within New Zealand and generated a further $15.1m in flow-on activity; a total of $29m across the New Zealand economy. This is estimated to have generated $18.6m in gross domestic product (GDP) and supported 162 full-time equivalent (FTE) jobs across the country

The findings demonstrate the RNZB’s significant contribution to the wider economy and the economic return generated by investment in the country’s national ballet company.

RNZB executive director Tobias Perkins says these figures show the significant economic contribution that sits alongside our cultural impact nationwide.

Victoria Gridley with a mock-up Birthday Offering headpiece, Costume workshop at RNZB Studios in Wellington, 2026. Photo: Dan Harris

“Every year, we employ artists and staff, commission work, engage suppliers and contractors, work with venues and businesses around the country, and bring audiences into theatres. That activity creates a ripple effect well beyond the RNZB itself.

“By investing in RNZB we are creating positive impacts across a great many sectors, notably hospitality, and bringing life to our urban centres everywhere we reach. This report highlights the positive impact of investment in RNZB and demonstrates the advantages of investing in a great Kiwi company supporting and growing talent at home that benefits us all.”

While Wellington remains the RNZB’s largest centre of economic activity, the assessment highlights a growing contribution in Auckland, reflecting the company’s increased presence in the city.

In 2025, the RNZB generated an estimated $3.3 million in total expenditure in Auckland, up from $2.4 million in 2023. Its estimated contribution to Auckland’s GDP increased from $1.2 million to $1.7 million over the same period. The RNZB presented 19 main-stage performances in Auckland in 2025, compared with 16 in 2023.

First Artist, Cadence Barrack in The Nutcracker by the Royal New Zealand Ballet. Photo credit: Stephen A’Court, 2025.

Across Wellington, the company generated an estimated $19.8 million in total direct and flow-on expenditure, contributing $15.5 million to GDP.

Importantly, the assessment shows that the RNZB’s economic contribution is not reliant on a single major event, tour or festival.

BERL notes that, despite relatively little change in the company’s total expenditure between 2023 and 2025, its GDP contribution has increased, indicating that the economic benefits generated by RNZB activities have been maintained and, in some areas, strengthened.

This reflects the company’s year-round programme of performances, community engagement and operational activity.

Dazzlehands by the Royal New Zealand Ballet, at Soundings Theatre, Wellington, NZ, July 2024. Photo credit: Stephen A’Court.

Preliminary modelling for 2027 indicates that this contribution is expected to grow further, with total direct and flow-on expenditure projected to exceed $32 million, while the RNZB’s contribution to GDP is projected to approach $21 million.

The assessment also does not include additional spending by domestic or international visitors who travel from outside the region to attend RNZB performances, meaning the figures do not capture the full potential economic impact associated with audience travel, accommodation, hospitality, transport and other visitor spending.

Perkins says the findings reinforce the importance of sustained investment in the RNZB as a national cultural organisation.

“These results provide clear evidence that the RNZB delivers value on multiple levels – culturally, socially and economically.”

“2025 saw a string of artistic successes rewarded by record breaking audience numbers and participants in our community programmes. What this report shows is the real impact that work makes: great art is also great business.”