\u201cWhat we do know with this … fund is that there\u2019ll be a range of events that have never been considered for New Zealand in the past, that now become possible.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hospitality and Tourism Minister Louise Upston unveiled a $70m investment package to boost boost major events and tourism opportunities. Photo \/ Michael Craig<\/p>\n
Brent Eccles, founder of Eccles Entertainment, told Newstalk ZB the Government\u2019s proposed events fund was intended to cover the \u201ccost of getting to New Zealand and putting on that show in New Zealand\u201d. <\/p>\n
\u201cIn a sense, the artist benefits from it. The promoter doesn\u2019t really.\u201d <\/p>\n
Given most deals with artists are done in American dollars, Eccles said the increased funding would essentially help cover the shortfall in our dollar\u2019s value against the strong currency. <\/p>\n
\u201cFreight costs have gone through the roof, production costs and staging and such. That has stopped these shows coming to New Zealand over the last few years.\u201d <\/p>\n
He pointed to AC\/DC, which were playing Australia in November, as an example. <\/p>\n
\u201cThey should have come here. And I suspect that\u2019s a cost thing.\u201d <\/p>\n
Promoter Brent Eccles says high freight, production and staging costs have kept international acts away from New Zealand.<\/p>\n
Hosking pressed Eccles on what this new fund says about the viability of international artists coming to New Zealand to specifically host concerts, given country singer Luke Combs was still able to host two massive shows at Eden Park<\/a> in January. <\/p>\n \u201cThat equation worked for him, but there are artists that their production requirements are such that it doesn\u2019t work,\u201d Eccles said. <\/p>\n \u201cWe can go put our head in the sand and go, \u2018Oh … they\u2019ll come anyway\u2019. Well, they won\u2019t and they\u2019re not, unfortunately. <\/p>\n \u201cSo we\u2019re getting some, but not all.\u201d <\/p>\n The Government\u2019s new funding shows it has recognised how important events and their associated business profit are \u201cfor the psyche of New Zealand\u201d, Eccles said. <\/p>\n The fund should therefore position New Zealand as a more attractive events destination and put it on par with Australian regions like Queensland. <\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s a whole lot of new artists that are coming through now that are playing stadiums. Not arenas … but at Eden Park or Western Springs or Go Media-type venue.\u201d <\/p>\n