September 3, 2025 • 7 mins
The Government is promising changes to special licensing rules to make it easier for organisers to run events - a move that's been welcomed by the sector.
These changes include introducing a nationally applied, risk-based framework for assessing special licence applications to ensure consistent decision-making throughout the country.
Eccles Entertainment founder Brent Eccles joined the Afternoons team to discuss.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:09):
You're listening to a podcast from News Talks, they'd be
follow this and our wide range of podcasts now on iHeartRadio.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
The government is promising big changes to special licensing rules
to make it easier for organizers to run the events.
If you're affected by this, love to hear from you
or what roadblocks did you face when trying to run
an event. But one of our most successful and well
known promoters and Australasia is Brent Equals and Brent is
on the line now, very good afternoon to you mate.
Speaker 3 (00:38):
Now have you in the past had to give up
on gigs and events because of the licensing red tape?
Speaker 4 (00:45):
Well, I don't know about give up, but it can
make it very very tricky and it can be disappointing
for the punters when they can't do what you want
to do and have a act like act like they
wouldn't a normal life and be able to get a
drink or a couple of drinks which will shout for
their mates, and it makes it difficult. So we'd like
(01:06):
to have gigs that run smoothly. Most of us are
very responsible, so we just feel that every time we
have to go to a special license there should be
some you know, some easy and easier way through.
Speaker 5 (01:19):
I guess.
Speaker 3 (01:20):
So do you like what you've seen from these changes?
What buts are good? And do they go far enough?
Speaker 4 (01:26):
Well, the thing is that you know the as social
mysts of justice, and Nicole McKee is she's a good
listener and she's an advocate of us, so she's she
has started this process of undoing the red tape, which
is kind of a really good step in the process
that she's listening and she agrees with us that it's
just crazy.
Speaker 5 (01:45):
So this is the first step.
Speaker 4 (01:46):
That's not the ultimate answer, but it's the first step,
and it's we're going to get into a good position.
Speaker 5 (01:50):
I can just feel it.
Speaker 3 (01:52):
So how can can you see how it would if
the nationally applied framework which they're suggesting, so you don't
have to reinvent the wheel every time? How how would
that change the way you go about managing events?
Speaker 4 (02:03):
Well, maybe it's because it's based on well, say, for me,
for example, if equals entertainment running an event, we have
a reputation that is reflected in the process. So it's
you know, if we've been been good at what we
do and we say we we say that we're going
to do something and actually do it, then we have
an easier road through then perhaps someone who's doing it
for the first time. And I think that's kind of
(02:25):
the basis of what this is all about. And it's
also recognizing that Kiwis like to drink.
Speaker 5 (02:31):
Yeah, and it's a fact.
Speaker 4 (02:32):
I mean, alcohol is in is in our community. So
you start making rules and where do you end up.
You end up with prohibition and that's not going to work.
I mean, trying to stop people drinking is not going
to work. And it seems that there are people in
responsible positions who just are trying to make that happen
and it's just not going to fly.
Speaker 3 (02:52):
Yeah, So that have you thought, because I've seen this
and I want to know if I'm over egging egging it.
But it seems that a lot of these rules are
made by insane activists who are pushing an agenda that's
outside what most Kiwis would think. They the way they
want their events to be run, and which begs the
sort of question, who's making the national rules. Is it
(03:13):
going to be the same people that make that the
national rules as have made these insane, insane rules.
Speaker 5 (03:19):
Well, I think it's sort of simple.
Speaker 4 (03:22):
The try agency has been alcohol harmed police and health.
There are people in those organizations. I respect what they do,
but they are just don't get it, don't understand events
and consider events as dangerous, so they try to everything
they can to make it difficult and hard to run.
Speaker 5 (03:39):
And that's really unfair.
Speaker 4 (03:41):
I think the idea is that's going to they're going
to move away from that.
Speaker 5 (03:47):
We're just yeah, sorry.
Speaker 2 (03:48):
God, well I was just going to say, so so
dickie rules like we've seen the likes of Electric Care,
for example, they kicked off on this one about one
drink minimum rules. When you're at a festival, it's a
day long thing. You're there to enjoy yourself and have
it maximum sorry, maximum of one drink per person. Is
that the sort of dicky rules that hopefully will be
affected by some of these these What, yes, it.
Speaker 4 (04:10):
Will be, because if you've heard me speak on this before,
there are so many security and alcohol prevention people at
those gigs more than anywhere. Why would you why would
you constrain a gig like that? What if I said
to you, guys, can I buy you a drink? You said, yeah, Brent,
oh should I can't? Only buy one, so I'll go
back three times?
Speaker 5 (04:27):
Should I?
Speaker 4 (04:28):
Yeah?
Speaker 5 (04:28):
Whats going on here? It's just really it's crazy.
Speaker 3 (04:32):
I mean, and I've said this to you before when
we've interviewed in the past. And yet those people on
the way home can go to a bottle store and
buy fifteen bottles of one, one, two fives of gin.
Speaker 5 (04:42):
You know, of course they can.
Speaker 3 (04:43):
And when they're not, you know, regulated by security in
a safe environment. Well, this make it a real difference
for medium and large festivals because can you can see
yourself or people in the industry doing more, say four
hundred to one, nine hundred and ninety nine person gigs,
because that's before you have to go to the major planning.
Speaker 4 (05:03):
Yes, that's what they're saying. You don't have to go
up to all the major event planning. When you go
up there less in two thousand, Well you still have
to be responsible. You can't just go you go helpful leather,
but you know, it just means it won't be as
hard and if it's very sensible, because it means the
smaller wineries or the smaller outdoor gigs, the boots seat
things don't have to go because you can't. It's costs
way too much money. So that's very sensible. It's a
(05:25):
smart move. I think it's all going in the right direction.
Speaker 3 (05:28):
Oh that's good. Do you think it's going in the
right direction? But do you think it goes far enough?
Speaker 4 (05:33):
Well, it's very if you read the repress release, it's
very open ended.
Speaker 3 (05:36):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (05:36):
So we just need to keep we need to keep going.
And one of the things they say is that you know, simple,
stable and practical rules. Well, I agree, that's that's practical,
simple like kwies.
Speaker 3 (05:46):
Want, Yeah, exactly. And Preen Nichols, you know we've we've
been in business together in the past and and you're
one of the best in the business. And I know
you're at the top of this game. So I know
you love events. But from a societal level, how valuable
for the community are concerts, gags? Events? And what do
we lose out when they become too hard to put on?
Speaker 5 (06:09):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (06:09):
I think for the psyching of the of the community,
they're really good. For the psyche of the constituents that
you know they're voting in the government, they're also very
very good. They take you to a place that you
know you can forget your woes and have a good
time with your mates and watch a great show and
whatever level you want to watch it on. But I
think it's judging by the amount of tickets that we sell,
(06:29):
people want.
Speaker 5 (06:30):
To go to concerts. There's no doubt about it.
Speaker 4 (06:32):
And I think moving on to something else that the
major events fund they're talking about long overs you but
boys a huge buzz in the industry about it right
now sort of.
Speaker 3 (06:41):
Come alive, Brent.
Speaker 2 (06:44):
Fantastic to check to you as always and it sounds
like good news and a step in the right direction
to really appreciate you coming on.
Speaker 5 (06:51):
Next time I see you, I buy you a drink.
Speaker 3 (06:53):
I'll buy you four. Now we're talking.
Speaker 2 (06:57):
Go well mate. That has Brent equals one of our
most well known and successful promoters. And Australasia.
Speaker 5 (07:03):
New Zealand.
Speaker 2 (07:03):
Yeah, great New Zealand, both in New Zealand and Australia.
So step in the right direction for more
Speaker 1 (07:08):
News talk set b listen live on air or online
and keep our shows with you wherever you go with
our podcasts on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to a podcast from News Talks, they'd be
follow this and our wide range of podcasts now on iHeartRadio.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
The government is promising big changes to special licensing rules
to make it easier for organizers to run the events.
If you're affected by this, love to hear from you
or what roadblocks did you face when trying to run
an event. But one of our most successful and well
known promoters and Australasia is Brent Equals and Brent is
on the line now, very good afternoon to you mate.
Speaker 3 (00:38):
Now have you in the past had to give up
on gigs and events because of the licensing red tape?
Speaker 4 (00:45):
Well, I don't know about give up, but it can
make it very very tricky and it can be disappointing
for the punters when they can't do what you want
to do and have a act like act like they
wouldn't a normal life and be able to get a
drink or a couple of drinks which will shout for
their mates, and it makes it difficult. So we'd like
(01:06):
to have gigs that run smoothly. Most of us are
very responsible, so we just feel that every time we
have to go to a special license there should be
some you know, some easy and easier way through.
Speaker 5 (01:19):
I guess.
Speaker 3 (01:20):
So do you like what you've seen from these changes?
What buts are good? And do they go far enough?
Speaker 4 (01:26):
Well, the thing is that you know the as social
mysts of justice, and Nicole McKee is she's a good
listener and she's an advocate of us, so she's she
has started this process of undoing the red tape, which
is kind of a really good step in the process
that she's listening and she agrees with us that it's
just crazy.
Speaker 5 (01:45):
So this is the first step.
Speaker 4 (01:46):
That's not the ultimate answer, but it's the first step,
and it's we're going to get into a good position.
Speaker 5 (01:50):
I can just feel it.
Speaker 3 (01:52):
So how can can you see how it would if
the nationally applied framework which they're suggesting, so you don't
have to reinvent the wheel every time? How how would
that change the way you go about managing events?
Speaker 4 (02:03):
Well, maybe it's because it's based on well, say, for me,
for example, if equals entertainment running an event, we have
a reputation that is reflected in the process. So it's
you know, if we've been been good at what we
do and we say we we say that we're going
to do something and actually do it, then we have
an easier road through then perhaps someone who's doing it
for the first time. And I think that's kind of
(02:25):
the basis of what this is all about. And it's
also recognizing that Kiwis like to drink.
Speaker 5 (02:31):
Yeah, and it's a fact.
Speaker 4 (02:32):
I mean, alcohol is in is in our community. So
you start making rules and where do you end up.
You end up with prohibition and that's not going to work.
I mean, trying to stop people drinking is not going
to work. And it seems that there are people in
responsible positions who just are trying to make that happen
and it's just not going to fly.
Speaker 3 (02:52):
Yeah, So that have you thought, because I've seen this
and I want to know if I'm over egging egging it.
But it seems that a lot of these rules are
made by insane activists who are pushing an agenda that's
outside what most Kiwis would think. They the way they
want their events to be run, and which begs the
sort of question, who's making the national rules. Is it
(03:13):
going to be the same people that make that the
national rules as have made these insane, insane rules.
Speaker 5 (03:19):
Well, I think it's sort of simple.
Speaker 4 (03:22):
The try agency has been alcohol harmed police and health.
There are people in those organizations. I respect what they do,
but they are just don't get it, don't understand events
and consider events as dangerous, so they try to everything
they can to make it difficult and hard to run.
Speaker 5 (03:39):
And that's really unfair.
Speaker 4 (03:41):
I think the idea is that's going to they're going
to move away from that.
Speaker 5 (03:47):
We're just yeah, sorry.
Speaker 2 (03:48):
God, well I was just going to say, so so
dickie rules like we've seen the likes of Electric Care,
for example, they kicked off on this one about one
drink minimum rules. When you're at a festival, it's a
day long thing. You're there to enjoy yourself and have
it maximum sorry, maximum of one drink per person. Is
that the sort of dicky rules that hopefully will be
affected by some of these these What, yes, it.
Speaker 4 (04:10):
Will be, because if you've heard me speak on this before,
there are so many security and alcohol prevention people at
those gigs more than anywhere. Why would you why would
you constrain a gig like that? What if I said
to you, guys, can I buy you a drink? You said, yeah, Brent,
oh should I can't? Only buy one, so I'll go
back three times?
Speaker 5 (04:27):
Should I?
Speaker 4 (04:28):
Yeah?
Speaker 5 (04:28):
Whats going on here? It's just really it's crazy.
Speaker 3 (04:32):
I mean, and I've said this to you before when
we've interviewed in the past. And yet those people on
the way home can go to a bottle store and
buy fifteen bottles of one, one, two fives of gin.
Speaker 5 (04:42):
You know, of course they can.
Speaker 3 (04:43):
And when they're not, you know, regulated by security in
a safe environment. Well, this make it a real difference
for medium and large festivals because can you can see
yourself or people in the industry doing more, say four
hundred to one, nine hundred and ninety nine person gigs,
because that's before you have to go to the major planning.
Speaker 4 (05:03):
Yes, that's what they're saying. You don't have to go
up to all the major event planning. When you go
up there less in two thousand, Well you still have
to be responsible. You can't just go you go helpful leather,
but you know, it just means it won't be as
hard and if it's very sensible, because it means the
smaller wineries or the smaller outdoor gigs, the boots seat
things don't have to go because you can't. It's costs
way too much money. So that's very sensible. It's a
(05:25):
smart move. I think it's all going in the right direction.
Speaker 3 (05:28):
Oh that's good. Do you think it's going in the
right direction? But do you think it goes far enough?
Speaker 4 (05:33):
Well, it's very if you read the repress release, it's
very open ended.
Speaker 3 (05:36):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (05:36):
So we just need to keep we need to keep going.
And one of the things they say is that you know, simple,
stable and practical rules. Well, I agree, that's that's practical,
simple like kwies.
Speaker 3 (05:46):
Want, Yeah, exactly. And Preen Nichols, you know we've we've
been in business together in the past and and you're
one of the best in the business. And I know
you're at the top of this game. So I know
you love events. But from a societal level, how valuable
for the community are concerts, gags? Events? And what do
we lose out when they become too hard to put on?
Speaker 5 (06:09):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (06:09):
I think for the psyching of the of the community,
they're really good. For the psyche of the constituents that
you know they're voting in the government, they're also very
very good. They take you to a place that you
know you can forget your woes and have a good
time with your mates and watch a great show and
whatever level you want to watch it on. But I
think it's judging by the amount of tickets that we sell,
(06:29):
people want.
Speaker 5 (06:30):
To go to concerts. There's no doubt about it.
Speaker 4 (06:32):
And I think moving on to something else that the
major events fund they're talking about long overs you but
boys a huge buzz in the industry about it right
now sort of.
Speaker 3 (06:41):
Come alive, Brent.
Speaker 2 (06:44):
Fantastic to check to you as always and it sounds
like good news and a step in the right direction
to really appreciate you coming on.
Speaker 5 (06:51):
Next time I see you, I buy you a drink.
Speaker 3 (06:53):
I'll buy you four. Now we're talking.
Speaker 2 (06:57):
Go well mate. That has Brent equals one of our
most well known and successful promoters. And Australasia.
Speaker 5 (07:03):
New Zealand.
Speaker 2 (07:03):
Yeah, great New Zealand, both in New Zealand and Australia.
So step in the right direction for more
Speaker 1 (07:08):
News talk set b listen live on air or online
and keep our shows with you wherever you go with
our podcasts on iHeartRadio.
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