"It's a very small market, it's a very small country. We've been lucky, to be honest."
Smith denied rumours the decision was a marketing ploy to boost sluggish ticket sales ahead of Friday's event.
"It's complete crap, it's bullshit. We are genuinely sad about having to do this (and) we wanted to let people know. It's a great show, it's always been a great show, you don't get this kind of intensity of international acts alongside local artists at this type of event.
Smith said previous years had all "pretty much sold out". Ticket sales were also slow in Australia, he said.
"People are saying that they aren't appreciating this line-up - that strikes me as strange. I think it's strong. For whatever reason we're not selling tickets. We haven't got a roll on."
He hoped fans would come along on Friday to "party" one last time.
"It is a sad day. I feel like we should be celebrating that it's been such an amazing and iconic event ... Everyone knows it's the last one and everyone will be feeling it."
The Big Day Out will be held on Friday at Mt Smart Stadium with Soundgarden, Nero, Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds, Das Racist, Foster the People and Royksopp.
* nzherald.co.nz will have full coverage on the day, including reviews, a live blog and updated photo galleries.
- Herald online
