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Local promoters blame the lack of big concerts in Hawke’s Bay on the global concert landscape and recession.
Mission Estate and McLean Park have no world-class acts booked for 2025 currently.
Promoters are in talks to bring big acts back by 2026, despite challenges in securing performers.
A lull in Mission and stadium concerts in Hawke’s Bay has been blamed on the global landscape and recession, with promoters and business leaders in talks to bring international acts back to the Bay in 2026.
Mission Estate did not have a concert in 2024, after two Robbie Williams showsat the end of 2023, and organisers have no world-class acts booked for 2025 at present.
McLean Park, which hosted Tom Jones last year, also has no concerts for 2025.
Tom Jones playing McLean Park in Napier on April 6, 2024. Photo / John Cowpland - alphapix
Mission Estate Winery CEO Petey Holley said global economic challenges were making artists hesitant to commit to touring.
“It’s a global phenomenon, it’s not just domestic,” he said.
“Agents and promoters are I guess a little bit conservative in the context of a global recession and recovery from recession, that people are being a bit discreet around their dollars.
“So there is a bit more risk involved than you would normally get in the normal circumstances.
“But I would be reasonably confident that we will be staging an event in 2026.”
Kevin Murphy, Napier City Council event manager, said there were only a small number of international concert promoters who would bring bigger acts into New Zealand and would consider coming to Napier.
“I just think it’s a carryover from last year that was so busy and just the way that bands are looking at where they go and why they tour,” he said.
“At the end of the day for this year, there’s just not the number of bands touring that tick the box – the ones that fit the venue and are capable of hitting the numbers of 20,000-25,000.”
Robbie Williams on stage at the Mission Concert in Napier in November, 2023. Photo / Paul Taylor
There is also Christchurch’s soon-to-be-completed 36,000-seat Te Kaha Stadium.
However, Holley and Murphy agree these changes shouldn’t affect Mission or McLean Park concerts.
“A lot of performers prefer a stadium, and a lot don’t like stadiums at all and that’s where the Mission offers a fabulous alternative,” Holley said.
“It’s often described as being the Wimbledon of outdoor concerts because it’s been run so successfully for so many years, it’s almost like an annual event... I think there’s an opportunity for both formats.”
Murphy said promoters were looking to get one of two things for their act, either the biggest crowd or the best deal.
“An act like Luke Combs, who is doing two shows at Eden Park this month with potentially 50,000 each night, they’re never going to come here because their expectations and their production set-up and the costs to travel just don’t work when you talk about a 20,000 crowd.”
The crowd and the lights at the Mission Estate for Robbie Williams in 2023. Photo / Paul Taylor
Despite no concerts currently planned at either venue this year, Holley and Murphy confirmed that they’re in constant talks year-round with promoters to find the best acts for 2026.
Murphy also said people can look forward to other events at McLean Park this summer, with the Black Caps playing Sri Lanka, the Hurricanes taking on the Fijian Drua, and the Freestyle Kings motocross stunt troupe.
Jack Riddell is a multimedia journalist with Hawke’s Bay Today and spent the last 15 years working in radio and media in Auckland, London, Berlin, and Napier. He reports on all stories relevant to residents of the region.
