Auckland Council backs more Eden Park concerts ‘in principle’ after debate
Nick Sautner, Eden Park chief executive, with his gift to Auckland Council of specially decorated Eden Park and council cupcakes. Photo / Simon Wilson
Auckland Council has endorsed the plan for more concerts at Eden Park – “in principle”.
It has also decided to ask the Government to consider a range of issues about how the plan will work. And in a long meeting on Thursday, it went through a period of some confusion before making it clear what it was trying to say.
The plan for more concerts comes from the Minister of Resource Management Reform Chris Bishop and is based on a report from the Ministry for the Environment.
Bishop has proposed increasing the total number of concerts allowed per year from 12 to 32. He also wants the current ban on Sunday concerts lifted, along with extended hours and other more liberal conditions.
The vote was 20 in favour, with Waitematā and Gulf councillor Mike Lee the only one against.
Early in the meeting, the councillors heard from Margi Watson, chair of the Albert-Eden Local Board, which voted 4-3 last week to oppose the plan.
Watson explained that her board supported some liberalisation of the rules around concerts at Eden Park, but wanted Sundays to remain free and a “respite” from concerts on at least one weekend in every five.
The board was also worried about damage to the streets from the extra trucks packing the shows in and out.
It pointed out that in 2024, an Independent Hearings Panel had proposed a maximum of 12 concerts, calling it “right at the edge of acceptability”. The council at the time had accepted this.
Deputy Mayor Desley Simpson asked Watson if the board’s position was based on the views of the wider community.
“I ask this because I’ve read the results of the survey done by the local MP and there’s a disparate outcome from your position.”
A recent survey by Mt Albert MP Helen White showed 80% support for more concerts. Watson said the board’s view was its own.
“It will be interesting to see what comes back from the public consultation,” she said.
Watson also said the board has heard from local residents who say they can’t hold a barbecue on a Saturday afternoon when the All Blacks are playing because “their in-laws can’t drive into the area and park”.
Councillor Bo Burns from Howick summed up the feeling around the council table when she asked: “What’s more important, 15 noisy late nights or the businesses being viable?”
“I think it’s 30 nights,” Watson said.
Specially decorated Bluebells cupcakes presented to Auckland Council by Nick Sautner, Eden Park chief executive. Photo / Simon Wilson
Eden Park chief executive Nick Sautner also addressed the meeting. He began by tabling a large box of cupcakes made specially for the occasion by Bluebells, a local caker.
There were many jokes about bribes.
Sautner outlined why Eden Park was keen to host more concerts and other events. Despite making a $4.2 million profit this year, it is projecting a mere $145,000 profit in 2026. Part of the reason, he said, is that the stadium can’t hold more events.
“The research is compelling. We’ve got a billion-dollar asset that is being underutilised.”
Sautner also explained how valuable Eden Park events are to nearby hospitality businesses on Dominion Rd and in Kingsland.
“The Dominion Rd business association has told me that when Coldplay was here, dining on Dominion Rd surged 22%.”
Councillor Lotu Fuli of Manukau said it wasn’t just local businesses that benefited. She’d been in the Sylvia Park shopping centre the day after the Metallica concert this month and seen “so many people in their black Metallica T-shirts carrying all their shopping bags”.
Huge crowds queue to get into Metallica at Eden Park. Photos / Corey Fleming
Sautner said he made no apologies for wanting the Eden Park experience to keep getting better.
“We need to be competitive with the east coast of Australia and that means we have to be continually upgrading our facility.”
Simpson quoted the Government-commissioned report that said council restrictions on Eden Park activity had cost the city $432m in lost revenue.
“We need to do everything we can to let Eden Park realise its potential. I think these recommendations do that.”
Councillor Andy Baker of Franklin pointed out that the previous council had strongly supported the Eden Park 2.1 plan, which proposes a roof for the stadium and many other improvements to the visitor experience.
The minister’s proposal, he said, was in line with that decision.
“We need to make some hard decisions,” Baker said. “We need to decide if we’re going to accept Eden Park 2.1 and get on board with it, or are we going to keep muddling along.”
When North Shore councillor Richard Hills introduced the debate, he said: “Basically we’re supporting Eden Park, supporting more events.”
But the other North Shore councillor, John Gillon, pointed out that the motion they were being asked to vote on, which ran to more than a page, didn’t say that.
He said although it made lots of good points, “Where’s our view on extra concerts and Sundays and extended hours and all the rest?”
After some wrangling, Waitākere councillor Shane Henderson suggested the councillors add a sentence making their position clear.
They agreed to add a sentence expressing support for more concerts at Eden Park, “in principle”.
But the council also agreed to tell the minister that extra events will mean extra traffic management plans, which the council does not want to pay for. And the council still wants the Government to allow a bed-night levy, to provide funds to pay for all the other costs council faces when the city swells with people.
Lee disagreed with all this. “Should we not be endorsing the local board’s resolution?” he asked.
“No,” Mayor Wayne Brown said. “It’s crap.”
Public consultation on Bishop’s plan closed on November 19 and he is now awaiting the result.
Simon Wilson is an award-winning senior writer covering politics, the climate crisis, transport, housing, urban design and social issues, with a focus on Auckland. He joined the Herald in 2018.