Lisa Nimmo from Wellington and Aucklander Leigh Donaldson say they're long time fans. Photo / Susan Strongman
Lisa Nimmo from Wellington and Aucklander Leigh Donaldson say they're long time fans. Photo / Susan Strongman
Swarms of Madonna fans are making their was to Vector Arena for Madonna's fist ever New Zealand show in Auckland tonight.
Sisters Cecelia Donnelly-Ta Maariki and Suzanne Donnelly have flown over from Sydney to see the material girl.
This will be Suzanne's fourth Madonna concert. She is wearing a red dress, blue contact lenses, red patent doc marten boots and is sporting a black bob haircut - referencing a geisha character from Madge's video for the song 'Music'.
Sisters Cecelia Donnelly-Ta Maariki and Suzanne Donnelly have flown over from Sydney to see the material girl. Photo / Susan Strongman
"The whole show is going to be an extravaganza, I've been a Madonna fan since the 80s," she said.
The sisters have VIP tickets to tonight's show - which will be Cecelia's first.
She's planned her outfit for four months and is wearing a white sparkly cowboy hat, a floor length white fur coat, white top and trousers and gold rings and earrings.
She was brimming with praise for the singer.
"She's a female artist. She's been in the industry for a long time, she's pushing 60, and she's been going strong the whole time. She really sticks it to the ageists."
Madonna will be performing in Auckland tonight. Photo / Getty Images
Lisa Nimmo from Wellington and Aucklander Leigh Donaldson say they're long time fans, but Madonna concert Virgins.
When asked how long they took to get ready, they replied "this is how we dress every Saturday night."
Earlier Madonna's DJ said: "Auckland, are you ready for Madonna's Rebel Heart Tour?" as she shared a clip of her sound check for the opening show at the Vector Arena tonight.
In a post that's bound to get fans excited, DJ Mary Mac shared a short video clip of behind the scenes at the arena ahead of the Queen of Pop's debut New Zealand show, which will kick off the New Zealand and Australia leg of her Rebel Heart world tour.
Shot from her DJ box at the back of the venue, DJ Mary Mac shows the empty arena with the stage and seats all laid out, and video screens and music playing in the background.
"Auckland, New Zealand, are you ready?" she says.
She added: "Let's go," before the beat kicks in and she starts bopping her head along.
Hairstylist Andy Lecompte has told Kiwis to "get ready ... we gonna sex you up!!"
Madonna's make-up artist Aaron Smith Henrikson is also gearing up for the show, posting another photograph of the Lord of the Rings inspired costume he wore to Hobbiton earlier this week, along with the caption: "Time to come out of my Hobbit hole and go to do another show! Are you ready Auckland?"
The Vector Arena says there's a "real buzz" about the venue as the minutes tick down to the start of the show - and it's promised to be a late one.
"The Madonna ?#?RebelHeartTour has now rolled into town and there's a real buzz around the building as the set has been built over the past few days!," it said in a post on its Facebook page.
"We can now confirm that it is expected to be a late finish, highly likely after midnight. Please plan with this in mind; transport, babysitters etc."
Parking restrictions in the area will be in place from 5pm, the Vector Arena said, warning "the tow truck guys can be very enthusiastic, so please check the signage very carefully to avoid getting your night spoiled".
Madonna isn't the only one getting glammed up for the big show tonight - with her chef and interior designer Jaime Laurita also getting spruced up ahead of the gig.
He's had a beard trim at the Cutting Crew barbers on Shortland St, and seemed pleased with the results.
"I can't believe what @barberpfaff Josh at the Cutting Crew in #auckland can do with his craft. I vote him #bestbarber in town. I look alive again!," he said, posting a photograph of his haircut on Instagram.
Dancer Aishi Matsu has enjoyed her commute into work today, posting a photograph to her Instagram account this afternoon showing her lounging on a boat in the Hauraki Gulf.
"On my way to work.. #newzealand #waiheke to #auckland #rebelhearttour" she posted.
With the third season of Amazon's Prime Video show out in New Zealand on February 6, the award-winning actor sits down with the Herald's Emma Gleason during CCXP Brazil.
