Stuart Maunder, an Australian-born international opera director and arts manager, has been appointed General Director of New Zealand Opera.

Stuart Maunder has worked in the opera world for the past 35 years. During that time he has accumulated extensive experience as a stage director – in Australia, and internationally in the UK (including Staff Director at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden), France and the US. Since the late ’70s he has been involved with Opera Australia, both as a stage director and in the senior management positions of Artistic Administrator and Executive Producer.

Sir David Gascoigne, New Zealand Opera’s Chairman, says Stuart Maunder is a highly skilled and widely respected opera professional. “With a deep knowledge of the classical and more modern and popular repertoire, Stuart is an enthusiastic and charismatic communicator of all facets of operatic life and production,” he says. “The depth of experience that he brings to the company from his time in high level management roles at Opera Australia means New Zealand Opera is in very good hands. This augurs well for our loyal supporters and audiences, and for the artform in this country.”

Mr Maunder says he is honoured to be appointed General Director of New Zealand Opera and thrilled to be joining a truly national company. “Opera has been at the core of my entire career,” he says, “from small scale touring shows to major concerts, fully realised grand opera, to the administration of Opera Australia.

“I know my passion, drive and commitment to the operatic artform will allow New Zealand Opera to continue to scale the artistic heights, develop audiences and grow its unique position in both the New Zealand and international arts markets.

“New Zealand Opera should be firmly at the centre of operatic output in the Pacific region,” he adds.

Stuart Maunder takes up the position of General Director on 24 March. He succeeds Aidan Lang, who was recently appointed General Director of Seattle Opera.

New Zealand Opera receives core funding from Creative New Zealand and Auckland Council through the Auckland Regional Amenities Funding Act