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NZ Herald
26-05-2025
- Business
- NZ Herald
Summer concerts fuel economic growth in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch
'Accommodation occupancy peaked at 95.1% on Friday, November 15 – the night of the second Music of the Spheres Coldplay concert." The economic and cultural agency also says the events heavily impacted the vibrancy of the city, as well as supporting small businesses, hotels and restaurants. 'Major events also make Auckland a great place to work, live and play – providing vibrancy to our streets and venues and an uplift in social health and wellbeing," Hill adds. 'Over the summer period, we saw an influx of visitors booking out hotels and flooding into cafes, bars and restaurants, and this is what ultimately helps many businesses get through the quieter periods.' Hospitality NZ chief executive Steve Armitage told the Herald last year that events such as concerts were 'a real boost' for businesses, including hospitality and accommodation operators. 'The run of Coldplay and Pearl Jam concerts in Auckland brought the city to life, filling our venues and restaurants with visitors keen to experience more than just the music." This sentiment was echoed by Claire Baxter-Cardy of the Kingsland Business Society, who said the hospo community had felt first-hand the positive impacts of the big Eden Park concerts. 'We advocated quite strongly for Eden Park to get the additional concerts, because we know from, say, test matches or any of those large sporting events that there's a 500 to 600% increase in business that night.' She said concerts saw a wider demographic of people come to the Kingsland area, with a similar increase in business for the hospitality sector of 500 to 600%. 'If it's a Saturday event, you're getting these groups and families that will be there quite early, like for three or four hours before the event, really experiencing all the offerings around the Kingsland and Morningside area.' For the P!nk concerts in 2024, Baxter-Cardy said the owner of popular pizza joint Papa's sold out. It was their first time opening again after being closed since the Auckland Anniversary floods. 'It was so cool to see that happen. We are a community that is deeply passionate. It might be a husband or wife team, or it might be someone who owns a very small business that's owner-operator driven. 'Every time there's a special event, we're getting more and more involved in the activation side of things to make sure when people come into Kingsland or come into Morningside, that there are things for them to see, things for them to do, and things for them to be involved in, as well as the great hospitality that we have.' Wellington The capital received a $15.9m economic boost between December and March, according to tourism body WellingtonNZ. Between December 2024 and March 2025, the city hosted 72 events. WellingtonNZ reported 211,686 people attending events over that period. This included Jim Beam Homegrown's final outing in the region, as well as sold-out comedy shows at the Michael Fowler Centre from the likes of Sarah Millican, Paul Smith, Jack Whitehall, and three Graham Norton shows. Nineties rave legends Groove Armada also performed to large crowds at the TSB Arena on the waterfront. 'Events bring vibrancy, liveliness and atmosphere to Wellington for both locals and visitors – and this summer was no exception," WellingtonNZ events and experiences general manager Heidi Morton says. Locals are seemingly on board as well, with recent research figures from WellingtonNZ revealing that 90% of Wellingtonians agreed that hosting events made Wellington a great place to live. Guests to the region were also 88% satisfied during their stay in the capital, according to the research. Advertisement Advertise with NZME. 'Events don't just fill calendars – they ignite civic pride and bring communities together. Wellingtonians are strong supporters of our events schedule and it's important that continues,' Morton says. 'The accommodation, hospitality and retail sectors have all seen a benefit from the breadth of events that have taken place over the last few months.' Wellington Chocolate Factory general manager Matt Williams agrees, saying major events and a stacked calendar are great not only for the business, but also for the city. 'It's really important that businesses make the most of the opportunities on offer too, think outside the square about how they can leverage what's happening to drive foot traffic and build up some buzz.' Lydia Suggate, co-owner of hospitality venues Nolita, LBQ, The Botanist, Bebemos and Otto, says events are crucial for business owners during a tough economic climate. 'Events in Wellington make a huge impact for our businesses, especially when people are watching their spending a bit more these days, as they like to plan where they're going to spend their money.' Karaka cafe owner Paul Retimanu adds that events like Matariki and Mana Moana help bridge the gap during the quieter winter months but also give locals a reason to come out and enjoy the experiences. Christchurch For Ōtautahi Christchurch, it was Electric Avenue Festival's two-day expansion in February that saw the biggest economic return over the summer, resulting in a visitor spend of $10.5m in the city. Featuring major headline acts like Empire Of The Sun, The Prodigy, and Chase and Status, the festival was the biggest event for local tourism body ChristchurchNZ and is believed to have produced the largest visitor spend of any Christchurch event since the 1974 Commonwealth Games. This summer, from December to February, there was a $12.4m visitor spend, which was just shy of the $12.8m spend of the 2023-24 December to February period. While the 2024-25 results are still in progress, ChristchurchNZ says the figures should come close to, but may not top, the $35.7m from the full year 2022-23. The FY22-23 period featured events such as an Elton John concert and a one-day Electric Avenue Festival. There were also strong survey figures from FreshInfo on behalf of ChristchurchNZ that supported the city's efforts when it came to hosting large-scale events. The research found that 93% of resident attendees agreed that hosting events like Electric Ave increased their pride in Christchurch, and 96% agreed that hosting events like Electric Ave made Christchurch a more enjoyable place to live. 'Ōtautahi Christchurch has proven the city has the infrastructure, experience, and capability to host major events,' Karena Finnie, ChristchurchNZ head of major events, tells the Herald. 'With new venues coming on stream and the momentum we can can indeed go bigger, although these opportunities require investment.' Various businesses also supplied feedback to ChristchurchNZ about the positive impact of Electric Avenue, including Chiwahwah and Zodiac restaurants' general manager, Amanda Keenan. 'We certainly saw an increase in sales, not just for Friday and Saturday [of the festival] but for the entire week,' Keenan says. 'Overall, [there was] a 5% increase in sales for the week compared to the same week the previous month.' Keenan also says visitors are well-behaved during their visits, adding to the positive community experience. 'Both Chiwahwah and Zodiac saw an increase in numbers through the door both nights, and our security team reported a significant decrease in denials due to intoxication compared to previous weeks, even considering the increase in headcount.' And with the opening of the new One New Zealand Stadium set to draw thousands to the region, there will continue to be more opportunities to draw punters to the region. Elsewhere across the country, events like the upcoming Metallica concert in Auckland and WoW and Peppa Pig's Fun Day Out in Wellington are also set to give these regions an economic boost in 2025.
Scoop
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
Wellington's Summer Of Events Delivers $15.9 Million Economic Benefit To The Capital
Wellington's event line-up took centre stage throughout the summer months, delivering an estimated $15.9 million of visitor spend through its diverse programme of events. Summertime calendar highlights including Jim Beam Homegrown, Māoriland Film Festival and Toast Martinborough drew impressive crowds, and sports action including BLACKCAPS and WHITE FERNS cricket matches and the NZ Breakers basketball game proved popular with local, out of region and international visitors. Adding to the city's vibrant arts and music scene were five sold-out comedy shows at the Michael Fowler Centre featuring Sarah Millican, Paul Smith, and Jack Whitehall, three sold-out Graham Norton shows, Groove Armada at TSB Arena, and the launch of the St James and Opera House theatre tours. Between December 2024 and March 2025, Wellington hosted 72 events spanning major, regional and performance events, resulting in 211,686 people taking to the region over that period. Heidi Morton, WellingtonNZ Events & Experiences General Manager, says: 'Events bring vibrancy, liveliness and atmosphere to Wellington for both locals and visitors – and this summer was no exception. Featuring a fusion of sports, festivals, music and arts events in the calendar, there was something for everyone this season. 'These impressive results endorse the capital's major events strategic framework delivered by WellingtonNZ, working in partnership with the events sector to maximise the economic, reputational and social outcomes to the region. The accommodation, hospitality and retail sectors have all seen a benefit from the breadth of events that have taken place over the last few months.' Recent research figures have revealed that 90% of locals agreed that hosting events makes Wellington a great place to live. 'Events don't just fill calendars – they ignite civic pride and bring communities together. Wellingtonians are strong supporters of our events schedule and it's important that continues,' says Heidi. While summer remains a key season, WellingtonNZ's events teams recognise the broader impact of events and actively secure a vibrant, diverse line-up to keep the city's calendar thriving year-round. This autumn and winter, the city welcomes an eclectic schedule including NZ International Comedy Festival, Kia Mau Festival, a series of All Blacks and Black Ferns matches, Hot Wheels Monster Trucks, Visa Wellington On a Plate, Beervana, Dracula's: Sanctuary, and Mamma Mia - an exclusive to Wellington. For more information about WellingtonNZ's events programme or to secure tickets, visit Notes: Wellington's Major Events, Regional Events and Performance Events between December 2024 and March 2025 wrap-up estimated figures: 72 events in total hosted across the region 211,686 total attendance $15.9 million visitor spend 102,736 bed nights 88% average guest satisfaction About WellingtonNZ: WellingtonNZ's purpose is to make the Wellington region thrive as a place to live, visit, study, work, do business, and invest. The organisation's mission is to create a thriving region for all; with more businesses succeeding and employing more people, more people participating in and attending events and experiences, and supporting more collaboration and engagement across the region. WellingtonNZ supports businesses to build capability, attracting, hosting and investing in events, running civic venues, marketing and storytelling, and destination development. The organisation receives funding from Wellington City Council, the Greater Wellington Regional Council, Central Government, and a range of private sector partners.
Scoop
28-04-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Groundbreaking Work Starts On Golden Mile
Work to revitalise Courtenay Place as part of the Golden Mile upgrade starts later this week, with a blessing/karakia marking the first stage of redevelopment today. Redevelopment work starts Sunday 4 May, and includes the construction of new pedestrian and bike crossings, weather shelters, and improved footpaths. This phase of the project is expected to take around eight months to minimise traffic disruption in the area. Mayor Tory Whanau says the upgrade of Courtenay Place – one of the capital's main retail, commercial and entertainment areas – is a game-changer for Wellington. 'Today we turn the first sod on a project that will revitalise the heart of our city and create a vibrant, accessible, and thriving environment for all,' says Mayor Tory Whanau following the blessing and sod-turning ceremony. 'This project is an important investment in our future. We will be working closely with businesses, residents and stakeholders to rejuvenate our city centre and ensure its positive impact for generations to come.' A dedicated team of Council staff and contractors will be available throughout the project to actively engage with residents and businesses, and provide prompt support for any concerns that may arise. 'We're supporting businesses affected by the project with things like direct contact with the construction team to solve issues quickly, clear signage to help customers access businesses, noise control like safety fencing, and tailored mentoring and training through WellingtonNZ and the Regional Business Partners Network,' adds Mayor Whanau. Most of the construction work will be done during the day, and some work will take place at night to minimise disruption to transport routes and businesses. Wellington City Council Manager Transport and Infrastructure Brad Singh says the revitalisation of Courtenay Place is part of the $116 million Golden Mile project, jointly funded by Council and Waka Kotahi New Zealand Transport Agency. 'Revitalising the central city will mean disruption in the short-term, but in the long-term, residents, businesses and tourists will benefit from better infrastructure, increased numbers of visitors, and world-class amenities. 'We'll improve traffic flow and bus reliability, create wider footpaths and dedicated bike lanes, add more public seating and outdoor dining areas, include cultural design elements developed in partnership with mana whenua, and increase native planting. At the same time, we have also budgeted to spend up to an additional $23m upgrading pipes under the Golden Mile.' The Golden Mile project also includes essential infrastructure upgrades like installing new pipes, replacing slippery pavements, and enhancing the road for smoother traffic flow. The design, created in partnership with mana whenua, celebrates the city's unique cultural history. Features include ngā ūranga – interactive sculptures where people can sit, relax, and share kai – and paving patterns that evoke the city's hidden awa (waterway). Once this section is completed, and a contract for further Golden Mile construction is signed, work on Courtenay Place itself can begin in late 2025 or early 2026. 'Wellingtonians, through five consultations since 2016, have consistently made it clear they want more pedestrian spaces, better public transport, and fewer private cars in the city centre,' says Mayor Whanau. "We will prioritise pedestrians, public transport, and green spaces – making the heart of our city accessible, safe and welcoming.'
