New Zealand Male Choir bids farewell
5 Nov 2025
On 11th October 2025, the New Zealand Male Choir gave its last performance in a joint concert with Brass Whanganui at the Prince Edward Auditorium, Whanganui Collegiate School.
At its Annual General Meeting in August this year, the decision was taken to formally wind up the New Zealand Male Choir after 26 years. The Choir has entertained audiences both nationally and internationally including several tours throughout Europe, Australia, and Canada.
Performing in or at diverse venues ranging from the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, to a snow covered stage in the Dolomite Mountains in Italy, Notre Dame before the fire, grand theatres in Vancouver, Windsor Castle, the valleys of Wales, amongst the gold fields in Ballarat, Dannevirke Town Hall, Kaikoura High School, and in many, many more wonderful New Zealand communities and overseas locations, the Male Choir always stood out for its quality of sound.
The New Zealand Male Choir was initiated in 1999 by Nelson Male Voice Choir, who wanted to sing at the Festival of Welsh Massed Male Voices at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff. With Nelson not having enough members, steps were put in place to recruit additional members from throughout New Zealand. The success of this was realised when 73 choristers plus a party of 50 supporters departed in May 2000 for the Millennium Concert, under the baton of Pete Rainey, with Mark Macdonald as pianist.
Upon return to New Zealand, it was decided to continue as an auditioned choir, at times with up to 60 members from the Catlins in Southland to Kerikeri in Northland. The New Zealand Male Choir went on to sing a range of music including classical, folk, waiata, gospel, operatic, popular, jazz, and contemporary.
However, through a combination of rising costs and the challenging logistics across both South & North Islands, together with competing outside interests, the decision to wind-up the choir was reluctantly made.
The choir acknowledges the guidance and support from the music teams who grew the choir in quality and performance. The fact that they survived 26 years is a reflection of the skills and dedication of their highly talented music directors Peter Rainey, David Qualtrough, Angie Cresswell, Robert Aburn and Joe Christensen, ably supported by pianists Mark Macdonald, Sylvia Watson, Judy Barrett, Shelley Spang, Paul Carnegie-Jones, Alex Wiltshire, Alison Holden and Fiona McCabe.
“I have been with the choir over the last nine years and really enjoyed the challenge of working with the men and melding the four voice parts to produce a quality sound. They worked hard, particularly for the 2024 European tour, and were rewarded with standing ovations, with the highlight being the final concert at Teatro di Marcello in Rome.”
Choir member Oliver Lane has written:
“200 choristers have been part of our journey that has taken us all over the world, where we have proudly represented New Zealand at international choral festivals and performed in spectacular venues. We have also enjoyed bringing music and song to all parts of New Zealand alongside many local choirs and performers.
"A very important part of the choir and a key to its success was our choir family, our fellow choristers past and present, wives, partners, children and grandchildren, our music team and a variety of loyal supporters. They have been on this journey with us and have made the choir the family it has become. This is a part that many of us will miss the most. We even had one chorister who sang at both our first and last concerts. We have been very blessed.
“For the remaining choristers in the Choir, it will be a big hole in their lives. It was just a few months ago, Joe made this comment to us during a rehearsal: 'I have been involved with many choirs over the years, but none have matched the camaraderie which is evident every time you men of this choir come together'. For me personally, I think he is spot on.”
Congratulations to all who have been part of The New Zealand Male Choir over the past 26 years.
An Irish Blessing
May the road rise up to meet you. May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face and the rains fall soft upon your fields.
Until we meet again my friend, until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of his hand.”