There’s been plenty of discussion in recent years about New Zealand failing to lure big acts to our shores.
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.
Several international acts, such as Kendrick Lamar, Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Green Day, Mariah Carey and the high-profile Oasis reunion, confirmed Australian shows over the past year or so, but omitted New Zealand from their itineraries.
Venue operators and event promoters were appealing to the Government to look at financial incentives in a bid to secure major concerts, it’s been reported.
Styles’ tour news comes hours before Aperture – the first single from Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally – is due to drop.
The former One Direction member was last in New Zealand in 2023 when he played at Auckland’s Mt Smart Stadium as part of his Love on Tour world tour. An Auckland show in 2020 was cancelled because of Covid-19.
Harry Styles at Mt Smart Stadium. Photo / Georgia Versey
“Decorated from head to toe in sequins, sparkles, cowboy hats and the coveted feather boas, punters, who had been lining up as early as two days before the concert itself, descended on Mt Smart Stadium bright eyed and bushy tailed, eager to get as close to Styles as they possibly could,” reviewer Liam Brown wrote for RNZ at the time.
“At his first break in the show, Styles, who, earlier in the day, had spent time with Te Matatini finalists, Angitū, sang the start of Tūtira Mai Ngā Iwi – written by Canon Wiremu Te Tau Huata in the 1950s.
“… The remnants of the 47,000-plus feather boas will live on the field of Mt Smart Stadium until Harry Styles makes his triumphant return to Aotearoa.
“Admittedly, he doesn’t actually know when that will be. All he knows is that he hopes it won’t be too long.”
– RNZ