[3][4] In April 1923 a meeting of businesspeople discussed the fact that other cities had special events to bring people into town, and the idea of a large show or carnival for Wellington was revisited.

[12] The plans included a large exhibition building, sports ground, and a football field with a banked cycle race track around it.

[14] Wellington Education Board objected to the proposed lease, saying it had had plans in place for three years to use the Town Belt land for a level playground for a new school.

[15] Agreement was reached between the Education Board and the Show Association, and after further negotiations with Wellington City Council the project was able to go ahead.

[18] Future income was expected to come from not just from winter shows, but from sports meetings and other events to be held in the new building and grounds.

[24] Apart from its use for the Winter Show, the building was used for many activities over the years including sports training, a miniature rifle club shooting range,[25] a circus,[26] roller skating,[27] and music concerts.

[30] In February 1990 a trade fair was held to celebrate New Zealand's sesquicentennial, 150 years since the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi and arrival of the first European settlers to Wellington.

In 1990, the organiser of the Winter Show blamed the drop in visitor numbers on the introduction of Lotto in 1987, which he said had reduced people's disposable income.

[42] The two schools came together at the renovated Winter Show Building as a national performing arts centre, named Te Whaea, which opened in 1998.

Refurbishment of the building included nine large and four small studios, a 200-seat theatre, a library, and areas for set construction, sound, lighting and costume.