Wellington International Ukulele Orchestra

In what could be described as a ‘uke fluke’ one of the city’s greatest homegrown bands is reforming. After a ten-year hiatus the Wellington International Ukulele Orchestra (WIUO) is back and will perform at the newly reopened Wellington Town Hall.

The spectacular venue played an important role in the orchestra's story since its earliest days so WIUO is thrilled to present the concert there. The performance will feature beloved classics, new material and, inevitably, a few trademark surprises.

Fans already know that WIUO’s gloriously eclectic repertoire moves effortlessly between pop hits, rock classics, country ballads, waiata Māori, Pacific music, indie favourites and unexpected deep cuts. Attendees at the March 2027 gig can also expect spontaneous comedy and plenty of audience participation.

The Wellington International Ukulele Orchestra was founded in 2005 by friends Age Pryor and Bret McKenzie, what began as an informal gathering of ukulele enthusiasts at Wellington's Deluxe Café quickly evolved into one of New Zealand's most celebrated live acts. Over the following decade WIUO captivated audiences across Aotearoa, Australia, the United States, China and Japan. It released four bestselling EPs and an album, collaborating with internationally renowned artists, and inspiring thousands of people to discover the joy of making music.