Chlöe Swarbrick ‘reeling’ at closure of beloved Auckland music venue where she worked
Thursday, 18 June 2026
Green Party co-leader and Auckland Central MP Chlöe Swarbrick says she is “reeling” after the announced closure of beloved central Auckland live music venue Neck of the Woods.
The underground-style venue announced in a Facebook post on Thursday, that it was closing its doors after 11 years, saying post-Covid pressures, rising debt and falling bar sales had made it “unsustainable” to continue.
The Karangahape Rd venue said it would close next week, making this weekend its last.
In a statement to Stuff, Swarbrick described herself as a “local resident, punter, gig goer and local MP”, and said she would “do anything for Neck of the Woods, our local venues and the communities who bring life into them”.
“I’ve reached out to the crew to see if there’s anything I can practically do right now in the midst of this news,” she said. “Right now, with this news and that of the loss of Flying Out in the same day, like much of our community, I’m reeling.”
Swarbrick, who previously worked at the venue, said the closure did not “happen in a vacuum”.
“If anyone hearing this news wants to change things, this is your sign to get involved in the community and politics necessary to change things, lest we all continue to see our small businesses and community spaces paved over,” she said.
She said she was working to change “the politics and economy into something that supports our collective wellbeing and creativity instead of draining and destroying it”.
Neck of the Woods said in its announcement that, like many music venues, it had been struggling since Covid and this year had become harder.
“We see sold out shows and think a club is doing well, but we live or die by our bar sales,” the post said. “That’s fine when the economy is up, but unsustainable in the current climate and as people are drinking and spending less.”
The closure marks another blow for the city’s nightlife and live music scene, which has faced ongoing pressure from the cost of living, changing spending habits, and the economic effects of the pandemic.
The venue said it had been fighting to stay open under “ever increasing debt”, but had been forced to accept it had “come to the end” of its journey.
“We’re gutted. Our nightlife and local music scene is vital to the lifeblood of our city, and Neck of the Woods is an integral part of that.”
The venue has been a regular home for live music, DJs, club nights, promoters and emerging artists since opening in 2015.
The venue thanked everyone who had attended gigs, bought tickets, performed, promoted shows or worked behind the scenes.
It said it had been an honour to see artists play some of their first big shows at Neck of the Woods before going on to play stadiums and festivals, and to watch DJ collectives form around club nights.
“But this is where the Neck of the Woods story ends… at least for now,” the post said.
The venue said two final gigs would be held on Friday and Saturday, calling it a chance for people to “come on down for one last dance, celebrate the end of an era and leave it all on the floor”.
Neck of the Woods was approached for comment.