Source: Radio New Zealand
Robbie Williams Tim Kildeborg Jensen / Ritzau Scanpix / AFP
There are allegations of corporate concert welfare and promoters holding the government to ransom over funding for big events while home grown talent is left out.
Some promoters are not in tune with the government helping fund pop star Robbie Williams’ tour to New Zealand.
The money came out of its Major Events and Tourism package, a $70 million fund aimed at stimulating economic activity around entertainment events.
$40 million of that money is to secure large-scale international events.
But how much it paid to get Robbie Williams to New Zealand for two shows – one in Auckland the other in Christchurch – is being kept secret.
The government says its commercially sensitive.
It also contributed undisclosed amounts to other gigs including Linkin Park and Wellington’s Ultra music festival – that includes major international DJ’s.
One promoter has told Checkpoint the government is being taken for a ride by big players.
Meanwhile Splore Festival producer Fred Kublikowski applied for event funding, but was declined.
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
