However, the application was unsuccessful.
Promoter and event manager Garry Craft at the Mission Estate in April 2023, when Sir Rod Stewart played for a third time.
Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston confirmed she received correspondence from Craft, and said he was then contacted by the project lead from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE).
Upston took advice from officials, with consideration given to the range of events around the country.
“Unfortunately, not all applications could be supported,” the ministry said. The Government was open to considering opportunities to host major events across sports and the arts from local and international organisers and would support them where appropriate.
The events must meet the fund’s criteria and deliver outcomes aligned to the Government’s major events strategy.
It was a contestable, one-off fund which aimed to “increase international visitation and drive economic activity in the short-term through supporting the growth and promotion of events”, the ministry said.
One of the key factors in securing the fund’s backing is the expected regional economic impact of the event, based on its exclusivity and uniqueness.
The one Hawke’s Bay event supported so far has been the Napier Art Deco Festival.
Craft said ticket data showed more than 60% of Mission ticket sales were from more than three hours away.
He said questions needed to be asked about funding, including the Linkin Park and Robbie Williams tours which are funded through the Events Attraction Package.
MBIE has declined requests from Hawke’s Bay Today and other media for more details, citing commercial sensitivity.
“I support the Government supporting the arts,” Craft said.
“However, the New Zealand Government has an agenda that I do not understand.
“How is it possible for the Linkin Park concert at Spark Arena to be entitled to NZ taxpayers’ financial support?
“As for Robbie, he was going to play concerts in New Zealand as part of his 2026 tour because it is a viable market for him.
“We proved that in 2023 at the Mission and sold over 45,000 tickets.”
He felt he was “fobbed off” to a “consultant” after he wrote to Upston.
He said securing high-profile international acts for regional venues had become increasingly difficult, as many artists preferred larger urban venues, such as those in Auckland.
“While these concerts benefit city residents, they do not deliver the same economic uplift to regional communities,” he wrote.
Touring logistics and costs were major barriers, and financial incentives, such as subsidised private jet charters from Auckland, could make regional performances more viable and attractive to artists.
“These logistical enhancements are crucial to maintaining the calibre of entertainment that drives regional tourism,” he wrote.
“These events often require substantial investment beyond ticket sales and sponsorship. Government support is essential to bridge this funding gap and ensure their success.”
Napier MP Katie Nimon said she had not had any involvement in the recent funding decision, but “it’s worth noting that Mission Concerts haven’t traditionally required Government support to succeed”.
“The Mission Concert has long been a highlight for Napier and the wider Hawke’s Bay, and we’ve seen first-hand the incredible benefits it brings to our region.
Napier MP Katie Nimon’s No 1 wish for a band at the Mission Concert is The Eagles, pictured here in Auckland in 2015. They haven’t been to the Mission, but Joe Walsh (right), now 78, has made a string of visits to Napier. Photo / NZME
“It’s also important to recognise that a number of regional events planned for 2026, in places like Ōpua, New Plymouth, Rotorua, Tekapo and Nelson, have received support through the Events Boost Fund.”
While there was “nothing confirmed on the horizon just yet” for Hawke’s Bay, Nimon said she remained “really optimistic”.
“Hawke’s Bay has a strong track record of hosting world-class events, and I’ll continue to support efforts to bring opportunities to our region.”
As for the future of the Mission? Nimon has been to a few and, asked to name a preferred solo act and a preferred group, opted for Celine Dion and The Eagles.
“There is a very specific kind of artist that needs to come to the Mission,” she said. “Classic and upbeat.”
This story has been corrected since first published to clarify that Government funding for the Linkin Park and Robbie Williams shows is from the Events Attraction Package, not the Events Boost Fund.
Doug Laing is a Hawke’s Bay Today reporter, based in Napier, home of the Mission Estate concert. He has reviewed a couple and nailed a scoop or two on who’s next. He has spent more than 50 years in the news industry, mainly in Hawke’s Bay.