It has not yet been officially confirmed how much may have been spent to lure the star to New Zealand. <\/p>\n
The Herald approached Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston\u2019s office for comment on the $3m claim. A spokesperson said Brown was \u201cbest placed to comment on his own remarks\u201d.<\/p>\n
They also included a release from March where Upston said the Williams tour was thanks to support from the Government\u2019s $70 million Major Events and Tourism Package announced in September 2025.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Events Attraction Package investments are commercially sensitive, and individual amounts will not be released. In total, the Government allocated $40 million for the Events Attraction Package,\u201d Upston said.<\/p>\n
Eden Park chief executive Nick Sautner told Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive that he was not privy to the level of support the New Zealand Government put forward for Williams.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat I would say is that we welcomed the major event fund. And if a major event fund had been in position earlier, the likelihood of getting Taylor Swift or Oasis or Lady Gaga would have been much higher,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n
Sautner said large concerts were beneficial for the city, saying when Pink was in Auckland 97% of hotel beds were full, and 3000 people were employed at Eden Park. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe reality is this is a strategic investment, and when people come … they come as a ticket holder and leave as a tourist. And we want our people to stay here,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n
Sautner said he was \u201creally disappointed\u201d to hear Brown\u2019s comments. <\/p>\n
\u201cPart of his role is to advocate for our city. Now, I\u2019m not privy to the investment level. What I am privy to is the fact that the Government took a leadership position on getting major events back into the country,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n
Sautner said he hoped that Williams would get an opportunity to meet Brown when he was in town. <\/p>\n
Robbie Williams will bring his Britpop Tour down under in November 2026. Photo \/ Robbie Williams<\/p>\n
Chris Hipkins slams use of fund<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Labour leader Chris Hipkins accused ministers of using the major events fund to subsidise their \u201cfavourite band or sports team\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cMajor events funding shouldn\u2019t be a slush fund for subsidising your favourite band or sports team, many of whom would come here anyway. It should be about working to attract the kind of major events that will provide significant economic spin-offs and opportunities to showcase what we have to offer the world,\u201d Hipkins said. <\/p>\n