Latest news with #DavidHiggins
Scoop
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scoop
Mānuka Phuel Synthony Festival To Return In March 2026
Press Release – Duco Touring Duco Touring has today announced the date for New Zealand's biggest one-day music event Mānuka Phuel SYNTHONY Festival, returning in 2026! The festival will take place on Saturday 21 March, 2026 and will return to Auckland Domain. The 2025 event had record-breaking attendance, with the headline act SYNTHONY performing to an impressive sold-out crowd of 40,000. The $1.8 million dollar production featured 2000 working personnel plus 316 artists and performers. Following a successful double-header event this weekend at Spark Arena, with 10,000 Kiwi's attending Mānuka Phuel FULL METAL ORCHESTRA and SYNTHONY ORIGINS, Duco Touring are excited to continue to bring high-quality experiences to New Zealanders year-round. Duco Touring Founder David Higgins commented: 'After a massive turnout in 2025, and an incredible atmosphere across this weekend's events, we knew we had to bring SYNTHONY Festival back to the Domain. In 2026, we're planning to scale up every aspect, from the stage production to the artist line-up. SYNTHONY Festival will continue to be a destination event for fans nationwide.' Described as 'an enduring success' and 'enjoyable for everyone' (NZ Herald) and 'a magical farewell to summer' (RNZ) following Mānuka Phuel SYNTHONY Festival 2025, punters can expect the same unparalleled festival experience, local and international artists, world-class immersive visuals, and some of the biggest dance tracks of all time reimagined. 'Following the roaring success of last year, we're proud to once again come on board as the headline sponsor for Mānuka Phuel SYNTHONY Festival 2026,' said Alex McDonald, Co-Creator of Mānuka Phuel. 'Our partnership with SYNTHONY across multiple events in 2025 has proved to be the perfect collision of energy, sound, and culture — and embodies everything Mānuka Phuel stands for. We're proud to return in 2025 to phuel what we believe is one of the most powerful and unmissable live music experiences Auckland has to offer.' Tātaki Auckland Unlimited's CE Nick Hill says: 'We're proud to support the return of Mānuka Phuel SYNTHONY Festival in 2026. Last year's event was a phenomenal success, drawing a record-breaking crowd and creating an unforgettable experience in the heart of Auckland. It's exactly the kind of world-class, homegrown event that showcases our region's energy, creativity and love of music. We're thrilled to invest in its future on behalf of Auckland Council and can't wait to see it light up the Domain once again.' The first, stellar line-up will be revealed in early August. Presale registration is open now, with presale and general on-sale mid August.
Scoop
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scoop
Mānuka Phuel Synthony Festival To Return In March 2026
Duco Touring has today announced the date for New Zealand's biggest one-day music event Mānuka Phuel SYNTHONY Festival, returning in 2026! The festival will take place on Saturday 21 March, 2026 and will return to Auckland Domain. The 2025 event had record-breaking attendance, with the headline act SYNTHONY performing to an impressive sold-out crowd of 40,000. The $1.8 million dollar production featured 2000 working personnel plus 316 artists and performers. Following a successful double-header event this weekend at Spark Arena, with 10,000 Kiwi's attending Mānuka Phuel FULL METAL ORCHESTRA and SYNTHONY ORIGINS, Duco Touring are excited to continue to bring high-quality experiences to New Zealanders year-round. Duco Touring Founder David Higgins commented: 'After a massive turnout in 2025, and an incredible atmosphere across this weekend's events, we knew we had to bring SYNTHONY Festival back to the Domain. In 2026, we're planning to scale up every aspect, from the stage production to the artist line-up. SYNTHONY Festival will continue to be a destination event for fans nationwide.' Described as 'an enduring success' and 'enjoyable for everyone' (NZ Herald) and 'a magical farewell to summer' (RNZ) following Mānuka Phuel SYNTHONY Festival 2025, punters can expect the same unparalleled festival experience, local and international artists, world-class immersive visuals, and some of the biggest dance tracks of all time reimagined. 'Following the roaring success of last year, we're proud to once again come on board as the headline sponsor for Mānuka Phuel SYNTHONY Festival 2026,' said Alex McDonald, Co-Creator of Mānuka Phuel. 'Our partnership with SYNTHONY across multiple events in 2025 has proved to be the perfect collision of energy, sound, and culture — and embodies everything Mānuka Phuel stands for. We're proud to return in 2025 to phuel what we believe is one of the most powerful and unmissable live music experiences Auckland has to offer.' Tātaki Auckland Unlimited's CE Nick Hill says: 'We're proud to support the return of Mānuka Phuel SYNTHONY Festival in 2026. Last year's event was a phenomenal success, drawing a record-breaking crowd and creating an unforgettable experience in the heart of Auckland. It's exactly the kind of world-class, homegrown event that showcases our region's energy, creativity and love of music. We're thrilled to invest in its future on behalf of Auckland Council and can't wait to see it light up the Domain once again.' The first, stellar line-up will be revealed in early August. Presale registration is open now, with presale and general on-sale mid August.
RNZ News
21-07-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
Usyk needs to fight Parker to cement legacy, says manager David Higgins
Parker is coming off a statement knockout win over Martin Bakole. Photo: PHOTOSPORT Though Joseph Parker's camp believe Oleksandr Usyk is the greatest of all time, they say there's one man left to fight in order to truly cement his legacy. That man of course, WBO interim heavyweight champion Joseph Parker. Usyk saw off his latest challenger on Sunday in spectacular fashion, finishing the dangerous Daniel Dubois with a vicious fifth round knock out at Wembly. Parker's manager David Higgins said the result confirmed the greatness of the Ukrainian. "We knew that us one of the best ever and we saw a performance that confirmed that he was clinical the way he dispatched Dubious. And if you just look at the way Dubois clinically dispatched Joshua, that puts in perspective how good Oleksandr is." Now with only one obvious heavyweight contender, Higgins said Parker had to be next in line. "If he chooses to put legacy first and foremost and keeping the division unified and undisputed he'll fight Parker next, but he might use another fight that might generate more money. Heavyweight boxers at that level should be trying to win the heavyweight title to unify it. That's exactly why Joseph is boxing. So he's hoping to fight Usyk next." Parker is also coming off a statement knockout win over Martin Bakole after Dubois was a late withdrawal from their scheduled bout. Higgins said they aren't looking for another easy pay day. "I don't think a tune-up fight is likely the level Parker is at and with the money involved, tune-up fights can be tricky to generate enough revenue to pay everyone and comes with the same risk of injury. "I think it's more likely that Parker's next fight is a very big fight possibly for the world title in terms of whether it's Usyk, that's up to Usyk." While prepared to bide their time, the Parker camp say they want the fight "sooner rather than later." "He'd take the fight anywhere, anytime. But ideally before the end of the year and the money involved could probably only happen in the United Kingdom or Saudi Arabia." As seen in their interaction on Sunday, there is a heap of mutual respect between Parker and Usyk. "You can't not respect what he's done in boxing. He whitewashed the whole cruiserweight division, won Olympic gold, and now he's whitewashed the heavyweight division. He's possibly the greatest of all time." However, Higgins believed Parker was the man to defeat the legendary Ukranian. "With his resurgence. He's a veteran now. Just look at the names on his resume. Wilder, Zhang, Ruiz, Chisora. The list goes on." And so does Parker. "He definitely backs himself. He's getting better each fight. The new camp, the new team, the recipes seem right and he's just performing in the ring and getting better. So he's a very hard fight. But Joseph will back himself to beat him on the night." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
7NEWS
04-07-2025
- Business
- 7NEWS
Gold Coast apartments prices surge and these are the hottest areas to invest in
The Gold Coast apartment market is riding a wave of record-breaking growth, with the average price for new apartments hitting an all-time high of $2.03 million, and experts say there's no sign of the surge slowing down. According to Colliers Gold Coast Market Overview published this week, strong buyer demand and a shortage of newly approved dwellings are driving up prices and reducing choice for everyday buyers, from downsizers to first-home hopefuls. Talking to David Higgins, Residential Director at Colliers said: "We're in a classic undersupply cycle - demand is there, but the projects aren't being approved or delivered fast enough." This is placing upward pressure on prices and compressing choice for downsizers, local owner-occupiers, and interstate lifestyle buyers." So far this financial year, just 2,464 new dwellings have been approved across the Gold Coast - well below the 6,500 homes needed annually to meet population projections. Lifestyle precincts driving demand Much of the current buying frenzy is focused on lifestyle hotspots like Broadbeach, Palm Beach, and Southport. These suburbs are attracting attention from downsizers and owner-occupiers who want well-designed, low-maintenance apartments close to the beach and city amenities. In the final quarter of 2024, the Gold Coast recorded 290 new apartment sales, with over 80 per cent of transactions taking place in the Central Precinct, according to Full-floor and oversized layouts in walkable, coastal locations are commanding premium prices, helping push the city-wide average to over $2 million. "The Gold Coast apartment market has matured significantly," Higgins added. "It's no longer about speculative investment, it's about quality design and delivering a lifestyle buyers actually want to live in." What it means for buyers and investors Whether you're an investor looking for rental yield or a downsizer after luxury and ease, tight rental conditions are strengthening the case for getting into the market. Vacancy rates are hovering at 1.3 per cent citywide and falling as low as 0.7 per cent in key coastal suburbs. Weekly rents have risen across all housing types, offering a cushion for investors concerned about future price movements. "There's still strong momentum across all asset classes," said Steven King, Director in Charge at Colliers Gold Coast. "The Gold Coast has evolved from a tourist-led market into one of Australia's most sophisticated investment destinations." Olympics boost and long-term growth Looking further ahead, the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games are proving to be a game-changer. Sixteen events will be held on the Gold Coast, and upgrades to infrastructure in Southport, Broadbeach and Carrara are already attracting developer interest. "The Olympics have brought long-term infrastructure certainty to the Gold Coast, and that's translating into real confidence among developers and buyers," Higgins said. Areas along the light rail corridor are being tipped as future hotspots due to their combination of lifestyle, transport and development-friendly zoning. While dwelling approvals remain around 70 per cent below the city's 2015-16 peak, demand for premium development sites, especially those with existing approvals or proximity to infrastructure is holding firm. With nearly 400,000 new residents expected to move to the Gold Coast by 2046, the apartment market is expected to play an increasingly vital role in the city's housing future. As King put it: "The Gold Coast's 'golden era' is well and truly underway."
RNZ News
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- RNZ News
Synthony rocks the world stage
Synthony has evolved from a one-off show in Auckland to a global phenomenon. Photo: Supplied There is something electric in the air. It is a feeling, a movement, a beat. It is called Synthony. Born in New Zealand from a one-off idea back in 2016, Synthony has gone from an ambitious fusion of classical music and electronic dance hits to a global phenomenon , and it is not slowing down. "From the first meeting, I thought this could be a global brand like Cirque du Soleil - if it can work in Auckland , why couldn't it work in New York, London and Perth, Milan and Singapore," says Synthony boss David Higgins. "I could see that potential. The name, in itself, is magic ... it's genius, a merger between 'synergy' and 'symphony', it's a magic one-word brand. "The show's a magic experience. It's a breathtaking collision of electronic dance music with full live orchestra, guest vocalists, and immersive visuals. "Synthony is definitely on track to be a loved, global brand, born out of Auckland." Higgins is the second owner of Synthony, which he bought in 2018, a year after the first show was held at the Auckland Town Hall. That show cost less than $20,000, and about 2500 people attended. Synthony boss David Higgins. Photo: Photosport He bought it within a few months of that first business meeting with original owners, David Elmsly, a New Zealand pilot, and his then-partner Erika Amoore, a DJ, music producer and accountant. "I paid them well," Higgins tells The Detail . "An accountant could argue it was worth nothing, there was nothing trademarked, it hadn't made money and it was a punt ... so some could say it had no value but I balanced that with where I could see it going and we ended up paying what I thought was a fair price and a bit of an earn out," he says. Higgins is owner of Duco Events, which has a history in boxing and sports gigs. Once he added Synthony to his portfolio, he moved it from the Town Hall to Spark Arena, then Auckland Domain - where 40 thousand attended this year - and took it on the road around the country, then overseas. It quickly struck a chord. This bold idea to bring orchestral gravitas to dancefloor bangers became a multi-city juggernaut, with sold-out venues and top performers asking to be a part of it. "One of the attractive things about Synthony is it's brand-driven, rather than [based around] any one person," Higgins says. "We made an internal rule that there are no egos, there is no cult personality, there will be no one person in the lights ... it's a brand. "We treat everyone equally. Synthony is the hero, and we give opportunities to younger talent and enthusiastic talent that might not otherwise get as many opportunities, and that way we can run shows wherever we want, whenever we want. "We book local orchestras; we find local talent ... and this gives us huge freedom to go global." He says the key to their global success has been creating a "top-quality" Synthony YouTube channel. "We have been investing money in filming content live and creating nice videos ... and since we have been doing that, we have had booking enquiries from around the world. In the last year, we performed on the start line of Formula One Las Vegas, for example, we opened a resort in Greece, we have performed in Mexico ... and we are in talks for shows in London and a European tour. "There are so many opportunities. "They call it a 'J-curve' in business terms, where something builds for a long time, then there's a tipping point and it starts to take off ... and we are hoping we are on that J-curve and that it's about to blow up, globally." Closer to home, he is about to launch Full Metal Orchestra at Spark Arena in Auckland next month. He says it is "a breathtaking collision of symphonic power and hard rock energy," and the show is already nearly sold out. Then it is New York, Australia, France and Calgary. And just who will be dancing up a storm, jiggling and sweating together in the audience? While billed as a family event, Synthony is becoming increasingly popular with aged millennials, Gen X, and boomers, females in particular, who are booking babysitters and reliving their youth. It is about nostalgia and the power of music to connect people. It is a movement. Check out how to listen to and fol low The Detail here . You can also stay up-to-date by liking us on Facebook or following us on Twitter .
