Tour news: Madonna hints at New Zealand appearance

Plans for a long-awaited New Zealand appearance by Madonna could be underway. Photo/AP

Is the Material Girl about to announce a New Zealand tour date?

The rumour mill is in overdrive after Madonna announced a world tour that kicks off in August in America and then heads to Europe and the UK towards the end of the year.

But a Billboard report says the tour will head Down Under in "early 2016" with shows in Asia and Australia. Dates are due to be announced later this month.

It's a quote from Live Nation's Global Touring division chairman Arthur Fogel that's kicked off rumours of a long-awaited New Zealand appearance.

"She has never played in Southeast Asia, and she hasn't been in Australia or New Zealand in probably 25 years," he told Billboard.

"It's kind of bizarre when you think about it, that a superstar like that hasn't been to a pretty regular touring area for 25 years."

Despite a career spanning five decades and 13 albums, Madonna has never performed in New Zealand.

If confirmed, the shows would be on the back of her new album Rebel Heart, due out on Friday.

Previous Madonna tours have broken touring records. Billboard reports her last world tour in 2012 - which included Australian dates which were then cancelled - grossed $305 million and sold 2.2 million tickets to 88 shows (stats: Boxscore).

- nzherald.co.nz