Stars come out in force for Cyclone Gabrielle relief concert in Christchurch

More than 2000 people gathered in Christchurch on Friday evening for the Ōtautahi 4 Aotearoa Cyclone Relief Concert, headlined by artists Lorde, Neil Finn and L.A.B.

A pōwhiri welcomed a full crowd into the Christchurch Town hall before Otautahi’s own Mike McRoberts took to the stage, greeted with a warm welcome.

McRoberts said he anticipated a huge night ahead with a star-studded lineup.

“Twelve years ago I was standing here reporting on another disaster, and I’m so proud Christchurch is here tonight.”

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Christchurch-born Tiki Taane opened up the show with his hit Always on My Mind.

Christchurch resident Raelene McGillivray, 63, is on a night out with her 26-year-old daughter Karina, and said she was excited to spend her night partying instead of being “the usual Uber driver”.

“When I heard Lorde on the radio dropping the kids off to school I told them she’s going to be a superstar and here we are,” McGillivray said.

Along with Lorde, she was most looking forward to throwing it back to the ‘90s listening to Supergroove, despite her daughter not knowing “what they sound like”.

“Don’t you worry, I’ll be up there dancing,” McGillivray said.

Taranaki locals Margot and Gerard snapped up two of the last tickets to the show while holidaying in Christchurch.

Margot said “our kids are very jealous because they’ve been trying to see Lorde forever”.

Neil Finn – a Kiwi golden classic – was more their style, Gerard said.

Team Event director Callam Mitchell said the crew were “over the moon” with the response.

Many of the artists were already in town for the sold-out Electric Avenue festival on Saturday, including Marlon Williams, Tiki Taane, Lee Mvtthews​ and Supergroove.

Finn said he was “grateful to have this opportunity to lend a hand”.

“It seems natural and fitting that we gather together now, play music and raise money for the people whose lives and livelihoods have been upended,” he said.

The tickets were snapped up in less than six hours, raising more than $200,000 for the Red Cross. The artists – along with the venue and staff – donated their time and resources for the fundraiser. Ticketek also waived its booking fees. Tickets went on sale 2pm on Tuesday for $129.90 and sold out before 8pm, the organisers said.

The Red Cross has been setting up and managing Civil Defence Centres and providing essential supplies such as stretchers, blankets and hygiene kits in the wake of last week’s cyclone, as well as having staff who are trained in psychosocial support to help those forced from their homes.

The clean-up of communities across the North Island is expected to cost billions of dollars.

On Monday, the Government earmarked $250 million for local councils and Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency to assess and fix roads.

Another $50m was set aside for interim emergency business and primary sector support.