Originally published in Waikato Times, Saturday 24 January 2026.
By Mike Mather.
Live Nation managing director Mark Kneebone and BNZ Theatre venue manager Michael Gilling were eager to show off the new facility. PHOTO: Mark Taylor / WAIKATO TIMES.
He’s eagerly lining up artists to come and play at New Zealand’s newest live venue, but Mark Kneebone is also keeping one eye on enrolments at Waikato University.
The managing director of Live Nation New Zealand said he and others had made a very careful analysis of who would most likely be coming to the just-opened BNZ Theatre before the final decision was made to add it to the international entertainment giant’s list of New Zealand venues.
“The first year numbers at the university are looking very, very strong this year. That’s really important to us, and it gives us a better idea of the type of acts we want to get through - whether we want to bring in the hip-hop and the electronic artists.”
Kneebone was in Hamilton on Friday to give media a guided tour through the $80 million theatre, as well as attend the official opening night show - a concert by the soulful Kiwi crooner Teeks.
The show-and-tell included a rare glimpse at some of the backstage areas not accessible to the public, including the dressing rooms and the loading docks.
Michael Gilling was enthusiastically looking forward to hosting “all kinds of acts” at the BNZ Theatre. PHOTO: Mark Taylor / WAIKATO TIMES.
Kneebone said there was no simple “build it and they will come” philosophy behind the theatre and there was no small amount of research had gone into which shows would be the best fit for both the punters and the artists.
“We have really drilled down into the demand curve.”
He was keenly aware that Hamilton boasted the youngest median age - about 33 years - of any city in New Zealand. But he was also cognisant of the older, more traditional theatre-goers who appreciated the opportunity of seeing orchestras and ballets in a top-level venue.
“There is a lot of pent-up demand for those kind of shows and we are looking forward to catering for it.”
The media tour included a rare glimpse into the backstage area - including the artists’ dressing rooms. PHOTO: Mark Taylor / WAIKATO TIMES.
The Hamilton venue was also well geographically located for the “drive market” of people travelling from Tauranga and Rotorua to see shows.
“With Spark Arena there is an estimated 20 to 30% of the audience coming up from the Waikato to see shows. We know this venue will have the same effect.”
Likewise, he predicted word would soon travel among top international performers that a new venue had been created that would befit their stature.
“Success begets success when it comes to doing shows.”
The “loading docks” area at the rear of the theatre was the scene of a mid-morning delivery of equipment for Teeks’ show on Friday night. PHOTO: Mark Taylor / WAIKATO TIMES.
The key was the venue’s versatility.
With the removable seating in the “stalls” area, the theatre could switch from hosting “opera one night, then allowing for a mosh pit for a speed metal band the next night, and then switch to hosting a kids’ prizegiving”.
It was clear those who had built the theatre had not compromised on the details, Kneebone said.
“I can’t overstate how exciting this is for the country ... To be able to stand here and see the full vision, rather than a scaled down vision, is fantastic.”
Also attending the media walk-through was Live Nation’s venue manager Michael Gilling, who was clearly relishing the prospect of hosting numerous high-class shows.
Michael Gilling said he was enjoying hearing the reactions of people walking into the theatre’s main auditorium for the first time. PHOTO: Mark Taylor / WAIKATO TIMES.
“We had Dame Malvina [Major] come in here and give a personal soundcheck on Monday, prior to the local opening. She belted through a couple of tunes and they sounded magnificent, with no amplification at all.
“The technology they have employed [for the acoustics] is next level. The best of the best.”
Gilling said the level of planning had been extended to all aspects of the venue, including the bar area and beyond.
The BNZ Theatre’s foyer is home to the Ralph Hotere artwork. Insured for $5m million, it is believed to be the second-most valuable artwork currently in New Zealand. The most expensive is understood to be another Hotere, in Auckland. PHOTO: Mark Taylor / WAIKATO TIMES.
“The New Zealand public don’t like queues. They don’t like to have to wait to go to the toilet. Well, we had three full houses this week [for the locally made production To The Stars / Ki Ngā Whetū] and there were no long queues on any of those nights.”
Gus Sharp, the theatre’s general manager, said he had come to Hamilton from Wellington to oversee the job and had been amazed by the generosity of spirit of the people of the Waikato.
“It’s been great - They are all about rolling their sleeves up and getting the job done.”