Is New Zealand getting short changed when it comes to big music concerts?

Thursday, 10 July 2025

Venue operators and event promoters are appealing to the government to look at financial incentives in a bid to secure major concerts.

It follows claims that New Zealand has been increasingly overlooked by the music industry's top flight stadium acts, despite their respective tours touching down in Australia.

However, the government appears uninterested in such a move, expressing doubt as to how lucrative big concerts are to the economy.

Taylor Swift's record-breaking Eras tour, which remains the highest grossing of all time, included several Australian dates in February 2024, and none for New Zealand.

An Australian-based finance lecturer said a handful of Swift shows could have generated more than $70 million for New Zealand's economy.

Several international acts, such as Kendrick Lamar, Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Green Day, Mariah Carey and the high-profile Oasis reunion, have confirmed Australian shows over the past year, but have omitted New Zealand from their respective itineraries

Music journalist and commentator Chris Schulz has been outspoken on the matter, chronicling the perceived trend extensively in his Substack newsletter Boiler Room.

'If you're anything like me, you're sick and tired of this horrible trend,' he wrote last month.

'Major artists are skipping us, and the only way to see them is to spend thousands of dollars on flights and accommodation multiple times a year. It's new, it sucks, and you're not the only one feeling bad about it.'

Christchurch's Kirsten Rendell travelled to Australia with a friend for Billie Eilish's string of shows in February. The trip cost about $3000.

'She announced her tour in May last year and New Zealand wasn't on there,' she said.

'So me and my friend spontaneously bought tickets for Sydney. We were only there for five days.

'We waited 12 hours to get near the front the first night.'

The 23-year-old felt there had been a downturn in New Zealand staging shows of the top-tier artists.

'I think we used to, but I think the biggest we've had is like Coldplay in November.

'But for the big artists like Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish, Sabrina Carpenter, we don't get any of that anymore.'

The New Zealand office of events giant Live Nation declined to comment.

NZ not losing out, but cost a factor - promoters

Event promoters have rebuffed suggestions the country was being overlooked by major concerts more frequently.

However, they admit getting big names to New Zealand comes at a cost.

TEG Live's New Zealand head of touring David Benge said acts bypassing the country when touring was nothing new.

'I don't buy into that narrative,' he said.

'You look at Spark Arena, there's an insane amount of shows there. Lenny Kravitz has just been announced, Central Cee played there the other week. It's a very busy arena.'

Benge also pointed out Charli XCX had headlined 'the biggest ever' Laneway festival in February, whilst Metallica were set to play Auckland's Eden Park later this year.

Eccles Entertainment founder Brent Eccles said it was not a case of New Zealand being neglected, but promoters 'trying to make sense of the market'.

'More and more of the top-end artists have productions that are eye-watering,' he said.

'It's not just New Zealanders missing out, but parts of Australia. It's due to the size of the shows.'

'I think everyone needs to [reign] their belts in and the venues shouldn't be charging so much, along with production companies.

'We have to be mindful of it.'

New Zealand's guidelines around withholding tax for international artists are another factor, Benge said.

'[Australia] has a different taxation system. That's a distinction between the two markets.

'We're told by artists regularly that artists can make more money doing a weekend of shows in America, than they can coming out to Australia for a two week run.'

Operators of Christchurch's new central city stadium One New Zealand Stadium (also known as Te Kaha) were banking on sport events and at least four major concerts annually after it opens in April 2026.

The capacity of the 30,000 seat venue would extend to up to 36,000 for major concerts.

Venues Ōtautahi chief executive Caroline Harvie-Teare said although the city was primed for big events, there were obstacles facing operators.

'It is the most expensive place in the world to get to, and one of the most expensive places to travel around' she said.

Call for government support

Eccles has proposed the government pick up some of the tab for major concerts, considering the benefits it brought to the country, both culturally and economically.

Like the country's Australian counterparts, a move to seed fund should be considered, he said.

'I think that's really important to recognise what it does for New Zealanders when they come,' he said.

Benge agreed concerts should be eligible for central government funding and said there should be changes to withholding tax rules.

'There's been tax incentives for the film industry to come film here. We should be looking at the same (for concerts). Due to the undisputed GDP benefit that a large musical event brings to a city,' he said.

Earlier this year, Eden Park's chief executive Nick Saunter appealed for seed funding for big events amid a 'competitive concert market' and a $15m drop in revenue.

The imminent opening of Christchurch's Te Kaha in nine months’ time will introduce another local player into the domestic market.

Harvie-Teare said central government funding for the larger-scale stadium acts would be a welcome move, as long as it was not 'Auckland-centric'.

'If we want to position New Zealand as an attractive place to come, and we want to bring those major artists here, central government funding would of course be advantageous. But it needs to be a national strategy,' she said.

Further south, operators of Dunedin's Forsyth Barr Stadium said the venue remained attractive to promoters, despite fierce competition, particularly across the Tasman.

Dunedin Venues chief executive Paul Doorn said its most recent concert was Pink in early 2024.

'Support from central government to make New Zealand more attractive for major events - and in particular large-scale concerts - would be welcome. The economic footprint of these events extends far beyond the gates, bringing visitor economy uplift, increased jobs, cultural benefits, city and regional promotions.'

In Wellington, the last significant concert at Sky Stadium was the Foo Fighters in January 2024, with nothing pencilled in for the future.

Concert profits 'go offshore' - Government

Last month, the government launched its tourism growth roadmap, including a $5 million fund for major events.

Concerts were however not eligible.

In a statement to RNZ, Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston said she was open to reviewing its criteria.

'We'd be happy to look into it but need to be realistic about whether concerts generate economic value for New Zealand.

'Some may generate an economic boost for the region where they're held, however overall, the profit tends to go offshore.'