NZ Post deal just the ticket

Global ticketing giant Ticketmaster, launched locally last month, is purchasing the Red Tickets brand and assets from New Zealand Post.

Phil Meggs, Ticketmaster Australasia president, said expansion into New Zealand took nearly 18 months to plan.

"We didn't just expand for the sake of it," he said.

"We believe there's an opportunity to provide something that's worthwhile.

"There's no point in just doing the same as everyone else because they [customers] can get that today."

Meggs said the purchase of Red Tickets provided Ticketmaster with access to more than 300 PostShops.

More stores and new sales technology were planned for this year.

"Red Tickets, over its three years of operation, has provided great service to clients and consumers," he said.

"We're excited about the acquisition and we look forward to providing New Zealand with our state-of-the-art ticketing technology and services."

He said Ticketmaster's global muscle would attract new acts and events to New Zealand.

"Our aim is to work with the entire industry to grow the pie to be better for everyone."

Expansion has also seen two other local ticket sale websites, response.co.nz and sporttix.co.nz, re-directed to the Ticketmaster website, under an agreement Meggs says is confidential.

Stephen Henry, NZ Post group manager of enterprises, said selling the brand and assets was an easy decision.

"During the past few years, the ticketing business has become increasingly more about technology and event management rather than simply just selling tickets," he said.

"NZ Post reached a crossroads of whether to further invest in running a ticketing business or to sell the Red Tickets assets and form a business relationship, which would allow event tickets to continue to be sold through PostShops throughout the country."

Although NZ Post was a state-owned enterprise, a spokesman said permission was not specifically required for the sale.

"The asset in question isn't significant but certainly, through the normal processes, we would inform our shareholder ministers of what we are doing," he said.

"But there isn't a requirement so to speak on an asset or sale such as this one."