Split Enz, known for their outrageous style as well as their popular music, will perform two special New Zealand reunion dates in May. Photo / NZH Archive
Split Enz, known for their outrageous style as well as their popular music, will perform two special New Zealand reunion dates in May. Photo / NZH Archive
Splitz Enz will tour New Zealand for the first time in nearly 20 years after reuniting for Christchurch’s Electric Avenue Festival over the weekend.
Original members Tim Finn, Eddie Rayner, Neil Finn, and Noel Crombie will take the show on the road, playing arena shows in Auckland and Wellingtonin early May.
The band, who formed in 1972 before relocating to Australia three years later, last played a live concert in New Zealand in 2008, but reformed for 45,000 fans at Electric Avenue on Friday night.
Before the Canterbury show, they announced a series of Australian dates in May, leaving Kiwi fans waiting - until now.
Split Enz’ Forever Enz Tour will play Wellington’s TSB Arena on May 6 and Spark Arena in Auckland on May 9.
“‘Aotearoa, rugged individual!’ We’re looking forward to climbing into our new Noel Crombie suits and seeing you all soon,” Tim Finn said in a statement, referring to the band’s famously eclectic fashion sense.
“The songs are sounding shiny and new … if music be the food of love, Split Enz are the silverware!“
The four original members will be joined on the New Zealand tour by Matt Eccles on drums and James Milne (who also performs as Lawrence Arabia) on bass.
Split Enz in 1976. From left, Emlyn Crowther, Eddie Rayner, Tim Finn, Phil Judd, Noel Crombie, Rob Gillies and Mike Chunn. Photo / Roy Emerson
This year the group, famous for hits including I Got You, I See Red, Message To My Girl, and Six Months In A Leaky Boat, is celebrating the 51st anniversary of its debut album, Mental Notes.
The band was inducted into the Aria Hall of Fame in 2005, and their No.1 1980 album, True Colours, achieved multiple-platinum status in New Zealand and was certified 5 x platinum in Australia.
Ahead of Electric Avenue Festival, director Callam Mitchell said getting the band to perform was “the most historic booking we’ve ever made, it goes far beyond ‘just another headliner’”.
He said it was to be a “cultural landmark of epic proportions”.
Split Enz: Forever Enz Tour
Wednesday, May 6 – TSB Arena, Wellington
Saturday, May 9 – Spark Arena, Auckland
Ticket presales start March 3 and general tickets go on sale on March 5.
For complete tour and ticket information, visit Livenation.co.nz
Mitchell Hageman joined the Herald’s entertainment and lifestyle team in 2024. He previously worked as a multimedia journalist for Hawke’s Bay Today.
