Tour news: Madonna loses Kiwi virginity with first NZ shows

Madonna

Pop queen Madonna is finally coming to New Zealand.

The 56 year-old singer has confirmed two Auckland Vector Arena shows in March 2016, the first time the star has played in the country despite a career which stretches back to the mid 1980s.

The New Zealand-Australia leg of the Rebel Heart tour will start in Auckland on March 5 and 6 before heading across the Tasman for six dates in Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne.

The tour begins in Montreal on September 8 and heads through North America, Britain and Europe until early 2016.

The tour follows the release of Rebel Heart, Madonna's thirteenth studio album - an album that has widely been judged a commercial flop.

Though she remains a major live drawcard with Billboard reporting ticket demand for in many cities on the North American and European leg of the tour requiring secondary dates.

While her album sales have declined in the last decade, her concert grosses have increased with her 2012 MDNA Tour grossing more than US$300 million and the 2008 Sticky and Sweet Tour grossing more than US$280 million.

Since breaking through internationally with her 1984 Like a Virgin album, Madonna has sold more than 300 million albums in her career.

It's believed top-end tickets for Madonna's Auckland shows could go as high as $500 or more.

Tickets for the Rebel Heart concerts in New Zealand go on sale on Monday, July 6 at 10am via Ticketmaster

Spark customers can access a special pre-sale commencing at 11am on Tuesday, June 30.

"My Live Nation" members can access tickets during the pre-sale from 10am Friday, July 3 until 5pm on Saturday July 4.

Madonna
March 5&6: Vector Arena, Auckland

- nzherald.co.nz