Wānaka developer Allan Dippie wants to bring a “world-class” concert venue to town, when Three Parks hosts the former Gibbston Valley Winery concert.
Last week, Greenstone Entertainment announced the concert was on the move and due to grow, after its 15-year stint at Gibbston Valley Station.
It was confirmed that Willowridge director Mr Dippie had raised his hand for the prize and plans to expand the former 15,000 crowd to a capacity of 30,000.
“I have personally received a huge amount of positive feedback and support from Wānaka locals since the announcement last week that the Greenstone summer concerts are moving to the Three Parks Outdoor Arena in Wānaka,” he said.
“The community is very excited at the prospect of the town hosting the concerts and everywhere I’ve been around the town I’m getting a great reaction to the news.”
Initially rumoured to be looking at Robrosa Station, between Queenstown and Wānaka — the site of the annual Rhythm & Alps gig — Greenstone confirmed the 60ha Three Parks Outdoor Arena in Wānaka.
Three Parks is hoping to get fast-track approval for about 900 new homes, a commercial area and potentially a school on its land, meaning areas, including for carparking, may not be available in future years for concerts of this scale.
Greenstone Entertainment chief executive Amanda Calvert said they chose Wānaka as they wished to stay in the area, where the concert had success.
“We are very fortunate to have found a fantastic supporter in Wānaka local Allan Dippie whose knowledge and connections have been invaluable.”
Under the existing consent, up to 18,000 are permitted at the site.
About 14,000 people attended this year’s concert in January, featuring Everclear, Bic Runga, Icehouse and Cold Chisel.
Greenstone’s application sought land use consent to hold up to three one-day events a year for the next five years, with a maximum of 30,000 attending.
Mr Dippie said the venue could become world class and entice more artists. Three Parks hosted Wheels at Wānaka four times, reeling in over 60,000 people to its final show in March.
“From Willowridge’s point of view, it’s our job to create a world-class venue at Three Parks and to provide the best atmosphere and concert experience at the venue as possible.
“It will be important to create a venue that quickly gets an artist’s reputation for excellence and that concert-goers love as well. We will be putting everything into creating something world class in terms of a unique outdoor concert setting.”
He confirmed some proceeds would go back into the Upper Clutha community, as they had with Wheels at Wānaka.
“We are also doing this for the Upper Clutha community; it’s not only a chance for locals to enjoy the concerts and local businesses to benefit from them but we will also be putting money back into a diverse range of community groups and initiatives”.
The 2026 event is pegged to employ more than 200 locals.
Buses will be provided from Queenstown, Arrowtown and Cromwell to reduce traffic disruption and volume on the roads.
According to the application, the proposal will result in a “less than minor effect on the surrounding roading network”.
The Wheels at Wānaka event attracted criticism from some members of the public and councillors as the roads were jammed with traffic over the long Easter weekend.
Full dates for the 2026 Greenstone Summer Concert tour will be announced soon, with the full artist line-up to be confirmed shortly after.