Government’s new $70m major events fund praised as game-changer

Monday, 15 September 2025

The Government’s new major events fund is being praised by industry insiders.

The $70m fund aims to draw big international acts and events back to New Zealand.

The events and hospitality industry says the fund means New Zealand will be better positioned to compete for big acts.

“Exhilarating” and “cool” are just some of the words being used to describe the Government’s $70m announcement to help supercharge the events and tourism sectors.

The funding, which is a mix of new and existing money, will be rolled out over the next two years, in an attempt to help New Zealand compete with Australia for big acts.

This comes after a flood of international stars chose to bypass New Zealand for Australia over the last two years, including Lady Gaga, Kendrick Lamar, and Oasis.

The package announced on Sunday includes $40m to secure large-scale international events from 2026, and $10m each for an events boost fund, a regional tourism boost campaign, and tourism infrastructure upgrades.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon called it the Government’s competitive pitch to the world, saying New Zealand wants you here.

“We have infrastructure and facilities to support it,” he said. “Sporting events, competitive events, they are all on the table.”

The announcement is being praised by those in the events and hospitality sector, with veteran promoter Brent Eccles saying the money means New Zealand is now back in the game when competing with other cities for big acts.

Eccles told RNZ that music fans, who have been starved of international acts, could expect announcements of “showstopper” gigs to start rolling in soon.

“A fund like this is so good. To be able to talk to the agents who control the deals about what we can do in New Zealand, all of a sudden, New Zealand will come back on that circuit.”

Supporting the announcement, Live Nation New Zealand managing director Mark Kneebone said it was a reflection of the importance that concerts have.

“This announcement reflects an acknowledgement and understanding of the wider economic and social impact major events, including concerts and festivals, bring to cities and communities,” he told Stuff.

Eden Park chief executive Nick Sautner said the fund was a vital step in keeping New Zealand competitive.

“New Zealanders deserve a wide variety of entertainment offerings. Events that provide escapism, bring people together, and create memories that last a lifetime,” he said.

“Every dollar spent on a ticket to a global event at Eden Park is a dollar spent in New Zealand’s economy. What we are seeing now is Kiwis earning $5000 here and spending it in Australia. We want them to spend it here supporting local jobs, businesses and our wider economy.”

Last year, Eden Park secured consent to host up to 12 concerts featuring six artists, something Sautner said gives them flexibility to have conversations with international promoters.

“This new funding pool will now allow New Zealand to compete head-to-head for the world’s biggest artists and events,” he said.

Hospitality New Zealand interim chief executive Nick Keene said the announcement acknowledged the role major events play in tourism and economic development.

“Large-scale events play a crucial role in supporting New Zealand’s economy, particularly for industries like ours that rely on visitor spending,” he told Stuff.

“Major events drive demand across the host city, from hotel bookings to restaurants, bars and cafés. The flow-on benefits touch almost every part of the hospitality sector, and often encourage people to travel to New Zealand and travel beyond the event location.”

Keene said sustained investment would also be key to prioritising the long-term attraction of major events.

Music journalist Chris Schulz said the fund would go some way to address the decline of major acts coming to New Zealand, something he said had become a “big problem” for music fans.

Schulz told Stuff the fact the Government has recognised there is a problem and is doing something about it is a good thing.

“The fact that it’s happening, and they’re doing something about it, and they’ve recognised there’s a problem, means it’s not going to be something that just keeps happening. It’s not going to lock this trend in for years to come.”

Schulz said it would take a year or two for the impact of the money to be felt, though, with tours for 2026 already locked in.

“Those big stadium shows are locked in years in advance. We are probably going to miss out on a whole raft of shows in 2026 that are already in the pipeline, that we just weren’t in the mix for because of this trend. So I think probably the changes are going to come after that.”

Over the last year, Pink, Travis Scott, Coldplay, Luke Combs, and Pearl Jam have all played stadium shows in New Zealand.

Metallica is set to play at Eden Park in November, and Ed Sheeran is touring in 2026.