22/01/2026
The official name of the Trust is the Upper Hutt Concert Grand Piano Trust. Known as the Upper Hutt Piano Trust, it was originally formed in June 2008 to purchase the magnificent Steinway piano which is housed at Upper Hutt’s arts centre Whirinaki Whare Taonga.
The Piano Trust started out as a fundraising committee in June 2006 to purchase a Steinway piano for the arts centre, known then as Expressions, which had opened a few years earlier in 2003. Following a highly successful community fundraising campaign, supported by Patron and celebrated New Zealand pianist Michael Houston, the Trust was formed to purchase the piano – it was decided at the time that it was preferable for ownership of the Steinway to be independent from the Council-owned arts centre and for a separate group of people to promote the use of it.
Thus, the Upper Hutt Concert Grand Piano Trust was formed in June 2008 to purchase the piano, tend to its care and maintenance, and to safeguard its lifetime of benefit to the Upper Hutt community. The Trust also owns a baby grand piano and an upright piano (see below for details).
Benefits of the Upper Hutt Piano Trust
The charitable aims of the Trust are to:
• further the education of music students in Upper Hutt and within the Wellington region
• assist further in the education and understanding within Upper Hutt of all forms of music that utilise the piano
• purchase and maintain a concert grand piano to ensure that the above two objectives can be obtained to the best possible level.
The Trust is proud of what the pianos provide for both Upper Hutt and the wider Wellington region:
• The Steinway has placed Whirinaki Whare Taonga firmly on the tour managers’ map, so audience members benefit from hearing the pianos played by top quality musicians.
• Acoustic musicians and performers, including classical and jazz, have access to and enjoy playing a top-quality instrument.
• Young aspiring concert pianists have the opportunity to perform not only in a professional venue but on a professional concert instrument.
• The quality instruments, together with a group of stewards to look after their care and maintenance, help to develop Upper Hutt’s reputation for excellence.
Piano details
The Steinway D 583467 was delivered to Whirinaki Whare Taonga on 9 September 2008 and is used only in the upstairs theatre as a premiere concert instrument. It weighs 480kg. According to Steinway, the Model D is a “majestic musical instrument — the pinnacle of concert grand pianos — and the overwhelming choice of the world's greatest pianists and for anyone who demands the highest level of musical expression”.
Sponsorship from Wellington-based music retailer Piano House assisted the Trust to purchase a Kawai RX2 baby grand piano, delivered to Whirinaki Whare Taonga on 20 January 2011. It weighs around 300kg and sits in the foyer, ready for playing in any of the spaces on the ground floor or upstairs in the theatre.
A Boston upright piano was donated by the Friends of Whirinaki and delivered in September 2008 for use throughout the arts centre.
