New Zealand
Lorde returned to the spotlight in New Zealand this week, appearing at the 2025 Aotearoa Music Awards in Auckland on Thursday night (May 29), just hours after hosting an intimate, invite-only performance inside a YMCA bathroom.
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The rare public appearance comes as Lorde ramps up promo for her upcoming album Virgin, due out June 27. Her attendance at the AMAs — New Zealand’s biggest night in music — marks her first red carpet appearance in the country in several years.
The day prior, Lorde teased a cryptic Instagram post showing a cracked iPhone tucked into the waistband of a pair of jeans, tagged “Auckland.” The post included a link to a WhatsApp group, where she invited fans to meet her in the city that night.
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“Auckland I wanna play you something .. Meet me in the city tonight? Message me if you’re keen,” she wrote.
More than 300 fans gathered outside the YMCA venue, with small groups of 30 admitted every 15 minutes to witness the pop-up performance.
The performance came one day before the release of Lorde’s new single “Man of the Year,” which follows previous track “What Was That.” Both songs will appear on Virgin, her first album since 2021’s Solar Power.
Lorde’s innovative approach to album promotion has included surprise concerts, fan text blasts, and spontaneous performances in public spaces. In April, she debuted “What Was That” in New York City’s Washington Square Park, drawing such a large crowd that the police shut it down. She performed again in the same location just a few hours later.
Several early winners were announced at the 2025 Aotearoa Music Awards ahead of the main ceremony, including MOKOTRON (Best Electronic Artist), Cassie Henderson (Best Pop Artist), and Holly Arrowsmith (Best Folk Artist).
Lorde’s debut album Pure Heroine peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard 200, with lead single “Royals” spending nine weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Her 2017 LP Melodrama debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and earned a Grammy nomination for album of the year. Solar Power, released in 2021, debuted at No. 5 on the Billboard 200.
Virgin arrives June 27 via Universal Music New Zealand.
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Drake and his Anita Max Win world tour in the Oceania region kicked off near the top of the month and was slated to run until March 16. However, reports have emerged that Drake will halt the remaining days of the tour due to scheduling conflicts with a promise of rescheduling those dates.
Drake was scheduled for select show stops in Australia and New Zealand after kicking off the Anita Max Win tour on Feb. 4 in Perth. As seen on Rolling Stone AU/NZ, a rep for the OVO Sound honcho confirmed that the remaining dates will be put on pause and shared a brief statement.
From Rolling Stone AU/NZ:
“Due to a scheduling conflict, four of Drake’s 16 sold-out shows in Australia and New Zealand will be postponed. We are actively working on rescheduling these dates along with adding some additional shows.
All tickets for the affected shows will remain valid for the new dates. Refunds will be available for those who prefer, but please note that as these shows are sold out, any refunded tickets will be released for sale.
We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your patience. Drake and the entire team have had an incredible time doing these shows and are excited to return soon.
We look forward to sharing the rescheduled dates with you as soon as possible.”
Drake was scheduled to play shows on March 4 in Brisbane, then trekking over to Sydney on March 7. The final two shows on March 15 and 16 were slated to take place in Auckland, New Zealand.
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Photo: Cole Burston / Getty
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