Eden Park operators call for more stadium events to be held sooner

Fans are excited during an international T20 cricket match between the Black Caps and Australia. Eden Park can host up to 25 sporting events a year.
photo: Photo sports

The operators of Eden Park Stadium say a faster approval process would allow them to host more events at the Auckland Coliseum.

The suburban stadium is currently licensed to host six concerts a year. It also hosts up to 25 evening rugby and cricket matches.

With some upgrades, like a retractable roof, it Listed by Auckland Council as a candidate for the city’s main stadiumand the proposed waterfront Te Tōangaroa/Quay Park sports stadium.

Fast Track Approval Act Described as a “one-stop shop” It will be implemented to fast-track approvals for nationally or regionally significant infrastructure or developments. It will override 10 different Acts and Regulations, including the Resource Management Act.

Nick Sautner, chief executive of the Eden Park Trust, told the environment committee, which heard views on the bill, that the vision for Eden Park is to redevelop the north and west ends of the stadium and add a retractable roof.

But he also wants to speed up approval of event permits.

“We are operating under severe restrictions; those restrictions are equivalent to the hotel being able to operate only one night a week,” Sautner told the committee.

“For us, the fast-track process allows us to continue to engage with the community but streamline the process and expedite the necessary changes to allow us to be flexible and agile.”

Number of concerts held at the stadium It has caused controversy in the pastSome locals objected to the noise, anti-social behaviour and littering associated with it.

Previously, consent had to be sought for each concert, but from 2020 the park has been granted ongoing consent to host six concerts per year.

In 2021, Six60 sold out concerts at Eden Park and attracted a steady stream of audiences
photo: Provided/Six60

Others in the community also support more events.

In February, a trust survey of 1,500 local residents showed that 90% supported the park hosting 12 performances by six artists a year. 93% of respondents said they would like the park to host a performance by Taylor Swift.

Mr Sotner told ABC New Zealand the trust had been “approached” to explore a number of avenues to increase the number of events at the site, including private member’s bills, local councillors’ bills, district plan changes and resource consent applications.

The trust was one of the recipients of a letter from the office of Chris Bishop, the minister responsible for RMA reform, which shared details of how to apply for fast-track consent.

“Event organisers plan 18 months in advance, as was recently demonstrated by Coldplay’s 12-month tour announcement, which saw them play three record-breaking shows at Eden Park,” Sautner said.

“For religious festivals, venue bookings are often made five years in advance. Currently, the approval process for large events is costly, time-consuming and cumbersome.”

The Fast Track Act is designed to expedite nationally or regionally significant infrastructure and development projects. Sautner said the park is being operated “for the benefit of the public in the region.”

Nick Sautner, Chief Executive of Eden Park Trust
photo: leehowell2017

Colin Lucas, chairman of the Eden Park Neighbours Association, said he was surprised by the news that the trust wanted to fast-track permission for the event.

“My simple reading of the bill is that it applies to brick and mortar type developments.”

Asked whether activities could count as infrastructure, he said that interpretation was “ambitious”.

Lucas said that in addition to noise issues, he has also dealt with anti-social behaviour after concerts.

“I’ve had the odd threat. People taking advantage of my hedges. They leave rubbish everywhere. The first Six60 concert we cleared about eight bags of solid waste – bottles, cans, trash.”

Pink fans queue for transport outside Eden Park earlier this year
photo: RNZ / Krystal Gibbons

He is concerned that the trust wants to push back the start times of some evening sporting events to align with other time zones.

Lucas said it depends on plausibility.

“We have to accept Eden Park, but we have to keep its facilities. That requires a trade-off, and what Eden Park is trying to do is to get people to accept an unacceptable trade-off.”

Labour’s environment spokeswoman Rachel Brooking, who sits on the environment committee hearing the views, said assuming the activity fell within the scope of the bill could be seen as “overreach”.

“All the National MPs who talk about it say, ‘Oh, we’re going to build renewable energy, we’re going to build more roads.’ Shane Jones is obviously talking about more mining, which is not infrastructure, but I think in most people’s minds it’s certainly a development project. But having more events as a specific issue seems to be at odds with what the legislation is trying to promote.”

Brooking, who has worked as a resource management and local government lawyer for 20 years, said the bill’s purpose is unclear and does not define what constitutes a development project.

“There seem to be a lot of people who think everything is included, including the circumstances of this case.”

Sautner said Eden Park is set up to accommodate large crowds and a wider variety of events.

“We currently host Eid al-Fitr and would welcome more religious and community festivals – imagine carols in the park, noodle markets, Auckland Lantern Festival, Auckland Pride, or even cinema in the park. These could all be made possible with the Government’s fast-track bill.”