Auckland Farewells an Iconic Music Venue

Auckland Farewells an Iconic Music Venue

An iconic piece of New Zealand entertainment history, the Mt Smart Super top, will be auctioned on location by Turners Auctions tomorrow Wednesday 24 February at 10am.

The massive tent is going under the hammer at no reserve, and the rest of the equipment associated with it will be sold in separate lots as well.

Jason Tredgett of Turners Auctions says that while the Supertop’s current owner estimates its replacement value is more than $1million it’s anyone’s guess what it will sell for, as this unique auction is the first of its kind.

“The tent itself is 130 metres long, 57 metres wide and can be 15 metres tall at its highest point. As a concert venue it can hold 13,000 and it has been used for trade fairs and product launches seating up to 8,000,” he says.

The additional equipment being sold, which totals 250 lots, has been used at indoor and outdoor concerts and for the filming of television programmes and films including Lord of the Rings. It includes lighting, sound equipment, stage equipment, the largest aerial lift in the southern hemisphere, a 60 ft telescopic hydraulic tower and a transportable concert stage with a 20 tonne carrying capacity roof

Jason says some of the smaller lots, particularly the concert memorabilia, will likely appeal to collectors.

“The Mt Smart Supertop is a Kiwi icon. Generations of New Zealanders will have attended at least one of the epic concerts held at there in the last three decades,” he says.

The Supertop has been home to shows by MC Hammer, Pearl Jam, Guns ‘n Roses, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, The Cure, UB40, Meatloaf, Cliff Richard, Oasis and Neil Young.

Big Day Out promoter Campbell Smith notes the thousands who flock to the annual summer music event will know the Super Top by a slightly different name.

“We dubbed it the Boiler Room and it became a real draw card for Big Day Out as a ‘must do’ for attendees,” says Campbell.

The Supertop has played a part in New Zealand history as it was a venue for the Cyclone Bola relief concert in 1988 and for former Prime Minister David Lange’s memorial service in 2005. It was transported to Waitangi in 1991 for events to mark the anniversary of the Treaty signing.

The Supertop’s current owner Ray Channon is selling the tent as his land hire agreement with the Auckland Regional Council has ended. Ray has been around as long as the venue itself – he became involved in technical co-ordination and supply of equipment for outdoor concerts since the 1970s before buying the Supertop in 1991.

“I’ve probably been involved in the set up of every outdoor show and indoor international concerts in New Zealand from the early 70s to the late 80s and then every gig in the Supertop since I’ve owned it,” he says.

“When you’re setting up you keep a low profile. But it’s great to see them at sound check before a concert. The big ones for me were iconic 70s musos such as John Denver and Neil Diamond, and, of course, legendary Kiri Te Kanawa” says Ray.

Ray is also farewelling vintage posters from concerts held in NZ from the early 70s and Turners will manage the sale of these via Trade Me, but with the lots available for viewing at the auction on 24 February.

Turners reports much interest in the auction from New Zealand and abroad.

“We have received enquiries from circuses, community groups, event management companies and hire companies, regional councils and even schools”, says Jason Tredgett.

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ENDS

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