Aotearoa’s Independent Cinemas, Mapped

From the Embassy's 1924 auditorium to the Civic's starry ceiling, where Aotearoa's heritage and arthouse cinemas are, what they programme and how to book.

By Catherine Crowe October 18, 2026 4 min read

Photo: russellstreet, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Streaming has made almost everything available and almost nothing an occasion. Aotearoa’s independent and heritage picture houses are where a film still gets an evening built around it: a 1920s auditorium in Wellington, a twin-screen arthouse under an Auckland library, a starry ceiling over Queen Street. Here is where they are, what they programme and how to book.

Wellington: the Embassy

The Embassy is at 10 Kent Terrace. Heritage New Zealand lists it as a Historic Place Category 1 and records that it opened in 1924 as the De Lux Theatre, designed by Llewellyn Williams. The list entry traces a century of change: sound-film generators in 1929, a 70mm screen and new proscenium arch in 1960, restoration by the Embassy Trust from 1998 to 2003, then earthquake strengthening through to 2010.

Today the building is run by Event Cinemas, whose venue page describes two rooms: the Grand, “the historic 1920’s Grand Auditorium featuring Dolby Atmos sound”, and the Deluxe, a small cinema built into the converted orchestra pit. The programme mixes new studio releases with festival seasons; the current listings carry the British and Irish Film Festival, the Italian Film Festival and Cinema India titles, alongside repertory screenings such as Ken Russell‘s The Devils.

The Civic Theatre, Auckland — In pictures 3

The Rialto Cinema on Moray Place, Dunedin — In pictures 3

Wellington: Light House and the Roxy

Light House runs boutique cinemas on Cuba Street in the central city, in Petone and at Pauatahanui. Its own listings describe a mix of independent films and some blockbusters, with coffee, wine and food on the side. The calendar leans into event screenings: filmmaker Q&As, previews, the Show Me Shorts festival, and National Theatre Live and Exhibition on Screen seasons for anyone who would rather see the stage than the multiplex.

On the Miramar peninsula, the suburb where Wētā Workshop and much of the capital’s film industry are based, the Roxy Cinema is the neighbourhood picture house, with new releases and special screenings. Sessions and bookings are on the cinema’s own site.

Auckland: the Civic

The Civic on Queen Street is a live venue that also hosts film events. Tātaki Auckland Unlimited, which runs the venue, calls it “one of the last remaining purpose-built atmospheric theatres in the world”, and its starry ceiling is the reason. Manatū Taonga’s NZHistory site says the theatre was built in “just nine months” in 1929, designed by Bohringer, Taylor and Johnson, and “could seat 3500”. It was one of three atmospheric theatres in the country, with “Moorish and Hindu arches, pierced screens, minarets and balconies”.

The building nearly did not survive. According to NZHistory, the Historic Places Trust rescued it in 1987, it returned to council control in 1995, and it emerged from a major council-funded refurbishment in early 2000. Heritage New Zealand lists it as a Historic Place Category 1, describing it as “One of the few atmospheric cinemas left in the world”. Films here are events rather than nightly sessions, so watch Auckland Live‘s calendar for festival and special screenings.

Auckland: Academy Cinemas

A few minutes’ walk away, Academy Cinemas sits beneath the Auckland Central City Library on Lorne Street. It is a small twin-screen arthouse, and its programme runs to independent and international titles that rarely reach the chains. It has also hosted screenings for Auckland Pride, so check its listings before defaulting to a multiplex.

Dunedin: the Rialto

In Ōtepoti Dunedin, the Rialto sits on Moray Place, a short walk from the Octagon. Rialto Cinemas, which also runs a site in Newmarket, Auckland, programmes beyond the new-release slate: its current listings include a filmmaker Q&A screening, a National Theatre Live season, and Baby and Me sessions for parents with infants.

Festival season

The busiest time for many of these rooms is Whānau Mārama: New Zealand International Film Festival, run by the New Zealand Film Festival Trust. The 2026 edition in Tāmaki Makaurau ran from 29 July, with seasons in 11 centres including Wellington, Dunedin, Christchurch, Hamilton and Nelson. The festival site carries venue lists for each city, and it is the place to watch for the 2027 programme.

Where to watch

The Embassy, 10 Kent Terrace, Wellington: new releases and festival seasons in the Grand and Deluxe. Book via Event Cinemas.
Light House, Cuba Street (Wellington), Petone and Pauatahanui: independent films, Q&As, National Theatre Live. Book via Light House Cinema.
Roxy Cinema, Miramar, Wellington: new releases and special screenings. Book via the Roxy.
The Civic, Queen Street, Auckland: festival and special screenings. Book via Auckland Live.
Academy Cinemas, Lorne Street, Auckland: arthouse and international titles. Book via Academy Cinemas.
Rialto Dunedin, Moray Place, Dunedin: new releases, Q&As, National Theatre Live. Book via Rialto Cinemas.

Sources

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