While festivals including Glastonbury are cancelled because of the pandemic, the success of New Zealand’s Covid strategy means thousands of people can still gather for live concerts. A huge crowd of 50,000 music fans participated to a concert in New Zealand on Saturday night with no masks or social distancing. Kiwi band Six60 performed at Auckland’s Eden Park. It was the biggest live act in the world after the Covid pandemic struck. New Zealanders do not have to adhere to social distancing rules, and are only required to use a face covering on public transport and flights. In total New Zealand has recorded 26 Covid deaths along with 2,601 cases. The whole country went into lockdown from March until May last year. Beer gardens finally reopened last week and nightclub owners will open their doors on June 21 when all restrictions are lifted .
The New Zealand government stopped travelers from entering the country at the start of the pandemic in a bid to prevent spread from overseas. Six60 is a five-piece New Zealand band that formed in 2008 in Dunedin. Band members are: Matiu Walters (vocals, guitar), Ji Fraser (guitar), Chris Mac (bass), Eli Paewai (drums), Marlon Gerbes (keyboards, guitar, samples). Their first two singles “Rise Up 2.0” and “Don’t Forget Your Roots” were both certified double and triple platinum. In 2018 the band won five Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards and were the most streamed artist by New Zealanders on Spotify.
