The New Zealand Symphony Orchestra (NZSO) is the national orchestra of New Zealand. It is a crown entity owned by the Government of New Zealand, with 90 full-time players. The orchestra was officially founded in 1946. The New Zealand Symphony Orchestra Act 2004 established the orchestra as an autonomous Crown entity. It is currently based in the Michael Fowler Centre and frequently performs also in the adjacent Wellington Town Hall. It also performs in Auckland, and tours the country and the world