The Governments event boost is responsible for a raft of headline acts choosing to come to New Zealand

The $10 million budget for existing events has largely gone on events, including concerts and NZ Fashion Week, that were already booked and paid for by organisers and promoters, with the "Boost" simply reimbursing some costs already spent before the package was known about.

The State of Origin game secured for Eden Park was the result of three years of work by Auckland Council, predating the current coalition government's election.

Separately, Upston's own press release credits the package with letting New Zealand "compete with Australia to host big acts," citing 14 Auckland shows (including Coldplay and Pearl Jam) over three prior years that generated $33.7m and drew 490,000 attendees. These figures from before the Boost existed were used to sell it.