How to find all-ages gigs in New Zealand

If you're under 18 and love live music, you've probably hit the same wall everyone does: the band you like is playing, and the poster says R18. It can feel like the whole scene is locked behind a door you're not allowed through yet. The good news is that all-ages gigs do exist in New Zealand, from library halls to youth centres to daytime festival slots. You just have to know why the door is shut in the first place, and where the other doors are.

Why so many gigs are R18

Most small and mid-sized gig venues in New Zealand are bars, and bars sell alcohol. Under the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012, licensed premises have areas designated in one of three ways:

• Restricted: no one under 18 is allowed in, apart from staff doing specific jobs. Having a parent with you doesn't change that.
• Supervised: under-18s can only be there with their parent or legal guardian. Most bars fall into this category.
• Undesignated: anyone of any age can be there. Most restaurants and club premises are undesignated.

On top of the law, venues set their own door policies. Even if a bar is technically supervised, the promoter might make a show R18 simply because checking IDs and relationships at a busy door is a hassle, or because the venue's licence conditions say so. That's why the same venue might host an all-ages afternoon show and an R18 night show on the same day.

The legal purchase age for alcohol in New Zealand is 18, and nobody under 18 can be sold alcohol at a venue under any circumstances. The Health New Zealand guide to age and the law explains the designations in plain language if you want the detail.

Where all-ages shows actually happen

All-ages gigs tend to pop up in spaces that don't depend on bar sales. Places worth keeping an eye on:

Council and community venues

Community halls, library spaces, arts centres and youth centres run by local councils often host all-ages shows. Some are booked by young promoters and bands themselves. Check your council's events listings and the noticeboards at your local library or community centre.

Be aware that these spaces usually come with rules, like an earlier finish time or noise limits, because people live nearby. Respecting those rules is what keeps the venue available for the next show.

Youth music programmes and charities

Many towns and cities have youth-focused music organisations that run gigs, band nights and workshops for under-18s. Some are tied to councils, some to charities, and some to schools or churches. They're also a great way in if you play an instrument and want to be on stage rather than in the crowd.

The NZ Music Commission's all-ages resources include a guide to putting on all-ages events in Aotearoa, with a directory of all-ages venues around the country. It's aimed at people organising gigs, but it's just as useful for finding them.

School and inter-school events

School balls get the attention, but plenty of schools also run lunchtime concerts, band competitions and cultural festivals. Inter-school band competitions in particular are often open to the public and give you a look at what young local bands are doing.

Festivals and daytime shows

Some festivals have all-ages tickets, sometimes with an adult required for younger teens, and some city events in summer or during May (NZ Music Month) have free outdoor shows. Always read the ticket conditions carefully before you buy.

Following bands directly

Local bands and promoters usually announce all-ages shows on their socials. If a band you like only seems to play R18 venues, it's worth politely asking whether they'd ever do an all-ages show. Plenty of musicians remember being 16 and stuck outside, and venues pay attention to demand.

How to read a gig listing

When you see a show advertised, look for:

• The age rating: "All ages", "R18", or something like "under-18s with a parent or guardian".
• Door and finish times: all-ages shows often start and end earlier.
• ID requirements: if there's an age limit for part of the venue, expect to show ID.
• Ticket terms: some tickets aren't refundable if you're turned away at the door for not meeting the age rule.

If it's unclear, message the venue or promoter before you buy.

Getting there and home safely

The music is the fun part. Getting home is the part to plan before you leave.

• Sort transport first. Check when the last bus or train runs, arrange a lift, or agree on a pick-up spot that isn't right at the venue door, where it can get chaotic.
• Go with mates and leave together. Agree on a meeting spot in case you get separated and phones die.
• Charge your phone, and consider a small power bank.
• Tell someone where you're going and roughly when you'll be home.
• Eat beforehand and drink water. Gigs are hot and busy.
• Look out for each other. If someone seems unwell or out of it, find venue staff or security straight away. If anyone is in immediate danger, call emergency services.

Most all-ages gigs are alcohol-free, but that doesn't mean nobody ever turns up having had something. If you want reliable information about drugs and alcohol, the NZ Drug Foundation has plain-language guides.

Look after your ears

This one gets ignored a lot. Live music is loud, and hearing damage builds up over time and doesn't come back. If your ears are ringing or sound muffled after a gig, that's a warning sign.

• Carry earplugs. Cheap foam ones work. Reusable musician's earplugs cost more, but they turn the volume down more evenly, so the music still sounds clear.
• Don't stand right next to the speakers, however tempting it is to be at the front.
• Take breaks in a quieter area if the show is long.

Wearing earplugs at a gig is normal. Lots of musicians do it every time they play.

Don't wait to be invited

If there aren't many all-ages shows near you, it might be time to make one. Young people across the country have organised their own gigs in halls, libraries and youth spaces, often with help from councils and music organisations. Bands are usually keen to play to new crowds, and an all-ages audience is often the most enthusiastic one in the room.

For more on music in Aotearoa, see our music hub. And for the deeper history of the scene you're joining, AudioCulture, the online encyclopaedia of New Zealand music, is a great rabbit hole.