A Change of Chairs at New Zealand Opera
New Zealand Opera has announced that John Harvey has been appointed as Chairman of the Board of Directors. He follows
Sir David Gascoigne, who is standing down. “I have chaired the Board since 2001, and that seems long enough,” says Sir
David.
“We have recently appointed Stuart Maunder as the new General Director of the company. We are very fortunate to have
attracted him to the role, with his extensive knowledge and experience both of producing opera and of administering an
opera company. Stuart is settling in very nicely. The company is in good shape. So this seems the right time for me to
bow out of my current position.
“Opera is, to me, the most splendid of all the performing art forms, and this company consistently produces work of a
remarkably high standard. It is very satisfying to have been associated with that success – created by a small team of
such highly talented people.”
John Harvey has been a Director of New Zealand Opera for 12 years. He has wide experience in the business community and
a great love of opera.
“I am delighted to have been appointed by the Board to succeed Sir David as Chairman,” John Harvey says. “Sir David has
made a major contribution to New Zealand Opera and, more broadly, the Arts in New Zealand, and we will miss him. However
I look forward to working with the Board and the team at NZO to build on our past achievements and to further establish
NZO as a truly national opera company. We have some exciting plans which I look forward to leading.”
New Zealand Opera receives core funding from Creative New Zealand and Auckland Council through the Auckland Regional
Amenities Funding Act
--ENDS