New Zealand’s most iconic singing competition to become the Kiri Te Kanawa Song Quest

5 October 2025

The Kiri Te Kanawa Foundation has been announced as the new Principal Naming Rights Partner of New Zealand’s premier classical singing competition, ushering in a new chapter for the much-loved event. From 2026, the competition will be known as the Kiri Te Kanawa Song Quest.

Formerly the Mobil Song Quest and more recently the Lexus Song Quest, the competition is widely regarded here and internationally as the launchpad for Aotearoa New Zealand’s brightest operatic stars, and this marks a significant milestone in the competition’s 69-year history.

Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, one of the most celebrated sopranos of the 20th century and a former winner of the competition, has been a longstanding and passionate supporter of young artists. Her Foundation’s decade-long support of the Song Quest reflects her deep commitment to nurturing the next generation of operatic talent in New Zealand.

Dame Kiri Te Kanawa said today she is excited about the announcement, “this is a huge and exciting personal honour. The Song Quest is a New Zealand icon. It’s a great and venerable institution which over the years has been the catalyst and launch-pad for so many outstanding careers – including my own. My Foundation is now taking the leading role in sustaining the Song Quest into the future which is a practical way of ensuring that the opportunity I was given all those years ago will continue to be available to the cream of our young singers. My Foundation supports young New Zealand classical singers with exceptional potential. With its invaluable and prestigious on-stage experience and support for our country’s finest young singers, the Song Quest has always been a perfect fit for the Foundation’s work.”

The Song Quest has been a cornerstone of New Zealand’s cultural calendar since 1956. Over seven decades, it has launched the careers of some of the country’s most acclaimed artists, including Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, Dame Malvina Major, Teddy Tahu Rhodes, Phillip Rhodes, Jonathan Lemalu, Madeleine Pierard, Amitai Pati, and Benson Wilson. Many finalists and winners have gone on to successful international careers, establishing the Song Quest as a globally recognised benchmark for young operatic talent.

Lexus New Zealand has been principal partner of the Song Quest for the past two decades, and Andrew Davis, Vice President of Lexus New Zealand says, “We have been honoured to stand alongside the Song Quest, supporting the growth of Aotearoa’s extraordinary operatic talent. This competition celebrates artistry, ambition, and the pursuit of excellence—values that resonate deeply with Lexus. We welcome the Kiri Te Kanawa Foundation as the new steward. We wish Dame Kiri, the Foundation, and the Song Quest team every success as they carry this legacy forward with passion and vision. I look forward to seeing the next generation of stars rise through this prestigious platform.”

Tāwhiri, long-standing producers of the Song Quest, are looking ahead to a bold new chapter. Executive Director Angela Green shares, “We’re deeply grateful to Lexus New Zealand for their longstanding support, sustaining the competition for two decades. As we mark 70 years of this prestigious event in 2026, we’re thrilled to welcome the Kiri Te Kanawa Foundation as principal partner. Dame Kiri, who won the Mobil Song Quest in 1965 before launching an extraordinary global career, embodies the power and impact of the Quest—there really couldn’t be a more fitting alignment.”

Find out more about the competition at www.songquest.nz

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