Eden Park businesses excited for more shows, but Canterbury fears missing out

At a restaurant with four decades of history near Eden Park in Auckland, the last few years take just a short sentence to sum up.

"It's been challenging, it's been a rough ride," Papa's Italian Eatery owner Gail Hunter says.

The government is probing local rules it thinks could be holding Eden Park back, saying it wants to see more big concerts.

Auckland's economy had a $32m injection from several of them last year, it says.

The local Dominion Road Business Association said on Tuesday that concerts are a boon for businesses around the stadium.

Gail Hunter says her restaurant has endured Covid, Anniversary Weekend flooding and then the tight financial conditions particularly affecting our biggest city.

"So it has definitely been a difficult time to be in business, especially restaurants," she said.

"Because we are the discretionary spending. If people are struggling as well, and our economy has been, then we're the first to be cut off in regards to people going out to dinner and celebrating."

Hunter said the government investigation into whether there should be more concerts gives "hope and inspiration".

"It's just a really cool atmosphere but also, definitely financially, it puts a lot back into our business," she said.

The sold-out concerts by Coldplay at Eden Park were what sprang to mind.

"That was just such a great concert and the whole economy was buzzing from it, but all around us everyone was really happy".

She was hoping for more nights just like it, but said the restrictions at Eden Park meant that had not happened.

The Restaurant Association said the sector was still under strain. Liquidation figures have jolted up almost 20 percent in a year, with doors shutting on about 2500 businesses.

It said boosting funding for tourism and major city events was critical.

Right now, Eden Park can host six artists playing a total 12 shows a year that can only happen on certain days of the week, within set times and durations.

A concert's main act has to be between 7.30pm and 11pm on a weekday, and they also have to finish at the same time on weekends.

There can be no more than four concerts in a four-week period.

Local Auckland Councillor Julie Fairey said she had not had a lot of feedback from residents near Eden Park, at least not yet.

"I have a friend nearby who's just outside the traffic management area and he's the only constituent who's got in touch with me so far, I'm sure there's many more to come.

"He is like, 'Bring it on, I am happy to have more concerts,' but I know there will be people who live a lot closer who are really concerned about the impact for them."

Fairey encouraged anyone with concerns to let their representative know.

"Part of the issue here is we do not really entirely know what the investigation process looks like," she said.

"So at this point it is kind of an 'okay, let's see what the opportunities are', there are some requirements for consultation and let's see what that looks like.

"This is a new power the government brought in quite recently so this might be the first test of it, so we kind of have to see how that goes," Fairey said.

Eden Park Neighbours' Association chair Colin Lucas told Checkpoint that traffic management was the main issue.

He said residents had to deal with having the area locked down, with multiple roads closed off, and hundreds of houses locked in.

"If you're trying to get around, it causes problems."

The government says Eden Park, at 50,000 seats, is the country's biggest major events stadium.

Christchurch's stadium, Te Kaha, was racing toward completion and will have a capacity of 36,000 for concerts - and a roof.

The district's chamber of commerce says more concerts in Auckland, if they happen, should not be at the expense of the same happening in Christchurch.

"It should be an 'and' conversation," Business Canterbury chief executive Leeann Watson said.

"Hopefully, if we've got some of these big international acts they can plan in the North Island and the South Island.

"What we should be trying to do is maximise the economic return by encouraging them to play in both Auckland, and Christchurch," she said.

The government recently announced it would invest $40m to entice new international events.

Watson pointed out the government had also invested significantly into Christchurch's new facilities.

She said the 'garden city' should not be forgotten about as debate swirled on allowing more big-name concerts in Auckland.

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