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A band considered one of New Zealand's best live acts hopes new anti-scalping laws will filter down to protect more than just Rugby World Cup tickets.
The Major Events Management Act is designed to crack down on ticket scalping, ambush marketing and streakers. People who on-sell tickets to major national events can be fined $5,000.
However, scalpers continue to make tidy profits from concert tickets, even for New Zealand acts.
Tickets to upcoming sold-out shows by drum 'n' bass outfit Shapeshifter are going for almost twice the original price on TradeMe. That annoys band member Sam Trevethick, who says the tickets are made affordable in the first place so that the people who really want to see the band can do so. He says it is disappointing when fans only able to afford the asking price miss out because someone else wants to capitalise on the popularity of the group.
Shapeshifter are going on tour to celebrate the release of their new album Shapeshifter Live, which debuted at number six in the album chart.
Tickets to all the Wellington and Auckland shows are long sold out, but there are still some available for the Queenstown, Dunedin and Christchurch gigs.
- NEWSTALK ZB
