NZPA

17/04/2026

'Layton Lillas, president of the New Zealand Promoters Association, welcomed the US ruling affecting the events industry, saying global changes often influenced New Zealand, but he remained uncertain about its impact locally.

“That's a pretty big ruling in the US and what happens in the US normally filters through to the rest of the world. When I saw that, I thought, hooray, but is it going to change much? Well… let's wait and see.”

Lillas said he believed exclusive ticketing deals at major venues were driving up costs for both promoters and audiences here.

“The fees that are on top when you go to a Ticketmaster event are unbelievable,” he said.'

The jury found the business in the US used its dominant market position to smother competition by blocking venues from using multiple ticket sellers.

17/02/2026

'In response, the New Zealand Promoters Association launched a new "Trust Tick" scheme, designed to reassure festivalgoers that their money was protected.

Promoters displaying the Trust Tick must refund ticket buyers if an event is cancelled, hold ticket funds in a trust until the show goes ahead, and follow a strict code of conduct around advertising and consumer transparency.

That included being clear about line-ups, upfront about refund timelines, and communicating openly if anything changes.'

Thanks TVNZ 1

Some of Aotearoa's most loved summer festivals are under growing pressure.

17/02/2026

Find out the changes that are coming to help ticketholders trust the festival they hold a ticket for will go ahead without a hitch.

27/11/2025

https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/brent-eccles-eccles-entertainment-founder-on-the-cancellation-of-the-one-love-festival/?utm_medium=Image&utm_source=Facebook =1764129878

A promoter says concerts in New Zealand have a bright future, despite some high-profile cancellations.

20/11/2025

Layton Lillas, president of the New Zealand Promoters Association, agrees paying such big prices is absolutely worth it for some “die-hard fans or high net-worth individuals who now want to maximise their concert experience”.

“It takes the discomfort out of it. Both the star and the fan know what the transaction entails,” he explains.

What do bands get out of offering VIP tickets?
Lillas says while fans get a special encounter, for the artist it’s about the money, “nothing more, nothing less”.

“If the band has more control, they will curate it more cleverly for their fan base, and it will be a well-honed operation.”

If the event is run by the show’s promoter, Lillas says the the experience is usually set up a bit differently.

“[They] will generally be sharing the profits 50/50 with the artist, and then it’s usually just things [the promoters] can control - maybe an item of merchandise, maybe early entry to the venue, VIP bar in the venue.

“Generally, with higher priced [tickets], there is... a meet-and-greet for a pre-determined number of fans.”

Lillas says he’s watched these types of experiences be executed both incredibly well and incredibly poorly, but ultimately for audience members, “it is putting a price on an encounter with your favourite band”.

“[But] I’ve seen some [acts] who clearly are displeased; it’s part of their daily routine, and they can’t wait to get backstage and for it to be over.”

More and more often, musicians are selling VIP concert tickets with added layers of access and experiences. But are they actually worth the money fans fork

14/11/2025

A group of more than 40 British musicians, including Radiohead, Dua Lipa, and Coldplay, has signed a statement to the U.K. government asking Prime Minister Keir Starmer to honor his pledge to tackle "extortionate and pernicious" websites that resell concert tickets.

Read more here: https://au.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/radiohead-dua-lipa-coldplay-ticket-resale-prices-letter-87000/

12/11/2025

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT

The New Zealand Promoter Association (NZPA) is proud to announce a new initiative to provide ticket buyers, performers, and suppliers with peace of mind when it comes to show cancelations.

The NZPA TRUST TICK logo will feature on the event advertising of over thirty NZPA members representing New Zealand’s biggest and most trusted contemporary concert and festival promoters. Members include Live Nation, Frontier Touring, Rhythm N Vines, Rhythm and Alps, Greenstone Entertainment, Loop Media, Liberty Stage, Showcase Entertainment Group, The Stetson Group, Plus1 Entertainment, Pacific Entertainment, the ASB Classic and more.

Maintaining professional integrity is of paramount importance to the organisation, and NZPA members pledge to adhere to the highest ethical standards involved in the production and promotion of events as set out in the NZPA Code of Conduct published on their website.

The NZPA Code of Conduct covers all aspects involved in event production from accuracy in event advertising and acting fairly and honestly towards the public, performers, and suppliers to ensuring a safe and enjoyable environment at events for all concerned. In addition, there are a raft of governing laws that promoters must observe when producing events, such as the Fair Trading and Consumer Guarantee Acts, Commerce, Health and Safety, and Human Rights Acts, and where applicable, the Sale of Liquor Act.

http://www.nzpa.nz/nzpa-trust-tick.html

The New Zealand Promoter Association (NZPA) is proud to announce a new initiative to provide ticket buyers, performers, and suppliers with peace of mind when it comes to show cancelations. The NZPA TRUST TICK logo will feature on the event advertising of over thirty NZPA members representing New Zea

11/11/2025

At the weekend's Variety Artists Club (VAC) Awards the New Zealand Promoters Association (NZPA) presented Simone Williams from Liberty Stage, the 2025 NZPA OVATION AWARD for her work on Come Together concerts over the past year.

"I set the criteria for this first award as being created to acknowledge events by an NZPA member that in our opinion benefited NZ Entertainers and the Domestic industry as a whole."

"Tom Sharplin the VAC President gave the audience a detailed run down of the historical connection between the VAC and NEBOA as it was called, and we hope to continue the connection between the two organisations into the future. The committee are also keen for the NZPA to be a part of other awards in 2026. Please join me in congratulating Simone on receiving the NZPA Ovation Award." - Layton Lillas President NZPA.

Liberty Stage Presents
Come Together - Live Albums
Variety Artists Club of NZ Inc FB Group

📸Layton Lillas and Simone Williams by
Steve Bone Photography

08/09/2025

Industry sources say the new fund will initially be for one year, though its exact value isn’t yet known.

20/08/2025

The centrepiece is the so-called "AUSTRALIA LIVE" tax offset, which combines live music incentives with theatre production rebates.