NZ Festivals Vanish: Artists Lose Launchpad

The landscape of New Zealand's independent music festivals has dramatically shrunk, with many ceasing operations. Splore, a festival known for launching local artists, held its final event in February after nearly three decades. This closure mirrors a broader trend, as dozens of other festivals have ended in the past two years, including The Others Way, JuicyFest, and One Love. Local music publications estimate up to half of the festivals in the 2023-2024 summer season were cancelled or shut down.

Music insiders attribute this decline to challenging economic conditions, reduced funding, and the increasing dominance of international promoters. These larger entities possess significant financial power, making it difficult for smaller, local festivals to compete. John Minty, who ran Splore since 2006, noted that the festival lost approximately $320,000 in 2024 and saw a severe drop in ticket sales for its final event. He believes government funding, like the NZ$10m Event Boost Fund announced in 2024, has disproportionately benefited large international companies rather than supporting local music initiatives.

Festival founders express concern that this trend will lead to less diversity and fewer opportunities for New Zealand artists. Events like Splore were instrumental in providing a platform for emerging talent to reach larger audiences. The growth of major international promoters and ticketing companies in New Zealand further complicates the situation for local promoters striving to maintain a vibrant and diverse festival circuit. Many festivals are caught in a difficult position, too large for passion alone but too small to secure substantial sponsorship or government aid.