The NZSO Chamber Orchestra (formerly the New Zealand Chamber Orchestra) was founded in 1987 with leading players from the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra. It became established as New Zealand's premier chamber orchestra, generally performing without a conductor, directed instead from the first violin chair by Music Director Donald Armstrong.

The orchestra toured New Zealand and abroad over 13 years. Highlights included acclaimed performances at EXPO in Seville in 1992, and an engagement by Musica Viva, Australia as Orchestra-in-Residence at the prestigious Mittagong Festival, NSW, in 1993.

NZSO Chamber Orchestra performances involved distinguished international soloists, and many of New Zealand's finest artists joined the orchestra in concert, including pianist Michael Houstoun, tenor Patrick Power, flutist Alexa Still, and the New Zealand String Quartet. In 1996 Dame Malvina Major, Helen Medlyn and Deborah Wai Kapohe made their debuts with the orchestra, and in 1997, bass Paul Whelan came home to New Zealand for his first tour with the orchestra.

The NZSO Chamber Orchestra produced a catalogue of fine CDs, including Douglas Lilburn's Landfall in Unknown Seas narrated by Sir Edmund Hillary, the music of Richard Rodney Bennett, and the world premiére recording of the complete Orchestral Trios of Johann Stamitz, released in late 1995. In 2000 they recorded Britten's Serenade for Tenor, Horn and Strings and other Britten works.

The NZSO Chamber Orchestra is a division of the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra. Currently the group is not performing.