Six60 and Synthony to headline first concert at One NZ Stadium

Wednesday, 3 December 2025

One of New Zealand’s biggest bands and an up and coming five-piece formed in University of Canterbury halls are two of the musical acts who will first experience performing at the city’s long-awaited new $683 million stadium.

During a launch event at Christchurch Town Hall - the location necessitated to avoid health and safety and protective clothing requirements - TV’s Mike McRoberts welcomed Kiwi music giants Six60 to the stage after they were announced as co-headliners for the May 16 inaugural Once in a Lifetime concert at the One NZ Stadium.

The band will share that slot with electronic-orchestral outfit Synthony, who joined them at the James Hay Theatre to perform the pop rockers’ hit Forever.

Synthony conductor Sarah Grace Williams greets the crowd as she prepares to lead her orchestra with Six60 while performing at the James Hay Theatre in Christchurch in a preview of the opening concert for Te Kaha the One NZ Stadium in Christchurch.

Ticket prices for next year’s event will range from $79.90 to $149.90.

“[We] understand how long Christchurch has been waiting for this and how much resilience they have,” said Six60 lead singer Matiu Walters.

Matiu Walters from Six60 performs with Synthony at the James Hay Theatre in Christchurch.

David Higgins, who is organising the event alongside Brent Eccles of Eccles Entertainment, revealed the Town Hall launch had cost nearly $100,000.

The line-up for the first ever live show at Christchurch's One NZ Stadium has been revealed, with one of the country's biggest musical acts, Six 60, sharing the bill with electronic orchestral phenomenon Synthony (bottom right). Support acts are Kaylee Bell (top left), Cassie Henderson (middle left) and Castaway (bottom left). Six60 are pictured at the One NZ Stadium on Wednesday December 3, the day the concert was announced (credit: Chris Skelton).

That figure included travel costs for musicians and crew, accommodation, feeding everyone and organising the technical expertise for a mini concert.

Formed in a university house in Christchurch in 2018, up and coming five piece band Castaway have been announced as a support act for the One NZ Stadium’s inaugural concert on May 16.

Billed by the organisers as an “historic night of live music”, Six60 will play a full set at the May event, with Synthony also performing a set before the two join forces for reimagined versions of some of the Don't Forget Your Roots hitmakers best loved songs.

Special musical guests at the event have been named as Canterbury born and raised singer-songwriter Kaylee Bell - who was at the launch on Wednesday - Christchurch pop singer-songwriter Cassie Henderson and five-piece band Castaway.

Castaway – who released their second EP in October – were formed in 2018 at Wilson House on the University of Canterbury campus after five students started jamming together.

Six60, the only New Zealand band to headline their own stadium tour, were the first Kiwi act to play both Western Springs and Eden Park.

Christchurch was the first city to ever book them for a live gig.

Kaylee Bell is on the bill for the May 16 One NZ Stadium concert.

Described as “genre-defying”, Synthony are known for their big outdoor shows, fusing dance tracks with a live orchestra, DJs, vocalists, and visuals.

Cassie Henderson, the Christchurch singer who recently featured on The Voice Australia, will perform at the One NZ Stadium next year for the venue’s inaugural concert.

Sharing the James Hay stage for a press conference on Wednesday, Bell said she was honoured to be included in the line-up.

“The people of Christchurch have been waiting for this for a really long time, and I know what live music means to the people down here.”

Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston announces the Six60 and Synthony show at the James Hay Theatre in Christchurch on Wednesday.

Cassie Henderson, who is due to play the South Island Wine & Food Festival on Saturday, was runner-up in The Voice Australia last month after being coached by Spice Girl Melanie Chisholm, known as Mel C.

Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston was also at the Town Hall to announce the first tranche of the Government’s major events funding, which includes money towards the Christchurch stadium gig.

Part of the Government’s $70 million major events and tourism package, around $4.5m is beinginvested in acts including Linkin Park playing in Auckland and the Ultra Music Festival in Wellington.

Upston said the issue of which ratepayers funded the One New Zealand Stadium was the same one faced by facilities like the New Zealand International Convention Centre in Auckland and was a “live question that we need to look at”.

Taxpayers alone wouldn't have been able to fund big projects like Christchurch’s new stadium she said, “but we need world class facilities like the One New Zealand stadium here in Christchurch, as well as facilities like Eden Park in Auckland”.

Christchurch was about to experience a “honeymoon” period for stadium events, Eccles predicted.

“I think you'll find for the next three years or so, there'll be a lot of events coming to Christchurch. It will be very, very exciting.”

Tickets for the Once in a Lifetime concert will be available to the public from December 11 via ticketmaster.co.nz.

A series of ticket pre-sales, for Mānuka Phuel, Kiwibank and One NZ customers have been scheduled, with early tickets also available to those signed up to My Ticketmaster and Rova.

The public can register for the Once in a Lifetime pre-sale by going online to https://onceinalifetime.co.nz.