Fundraiser launched to save beloved Tāmaki Makaurau venue Neck of the Woods

Late last week, Tāmaki Makaurau/Auckland venue Neck of the Woods shared on social media that its shows over the weekend would be its last, in a shock announcement that spurred an outpouring of love not only from locals across Aotearoa but globally too.

Though Neck of the Woods has been one of its city’s most trusted venues for 11 years, the pressures of the COVID-19 pandemic and the current cost-of-living crisis appear to have been too much for it to continue operating.

In a statement about the closure, its owners shared their sadness and transparency on the decision:

“Like a lot of music venues, we’ve been struggling since Covid, and this year has just gotten harder. We see sold-out shows and think a club is doing well, but we live or die by our bar sales. That’s fine when the economy is up, but unsustainable in the current climate, as people are drinking and spending less.

We’ve been fighting hard to stay open under ever-increasing debt. We’ve tried everything, but today we’ve had to face the hard truth that after 11 amazing years, we’ve come to the end of our journey. We’re closing our doors next week, making this weekend our last.”

That final series of shows saw takeovers by Cannabis Cup, featuring Samara Alofa, 2BREW, CCME, Hardphoria, and Bouncephoria, as well as Halfqueen, Bbyfacekilla, Fox Glove, and DylanC.

Immediately following the news, an outpouring of support saw artists, promoters and punters alike share their devastation, with Neck of the Woods sharing no shortage of photos from its more than a decade in operation.

That outpour has culminated in the launching of a fundraising campaign to save the venue, initiated by local promoters Nympho. The fundraiser, hoping to raise $150,000 to help Neck of the Woods reopen its doors, launched on Saturday and has already raised over $64,000 at the time of writing.

On its fundraising page, the organisers have detailed the importance of Neck of the Woods and how funding will address the challenges that have forced its closure:

“Neck of the Woods is not just a commercial venue. It functions as an essential cultural infrastructure. It provides space for emerging and established artists, supports local creative employment (DJs, musicians, promoters, technicians), and contributes to Auckland’s broader night-time economy and cultural identity. Its loss would represent a measurable reduction in opportunities for artists and audiences alike…

Support could take the form of financial contribution, sponsorship, or philanthropic partnership to help stabilise operations and preserve this cultural space long-term. As drinking rates go down in Aotearoa, NOTW needs time to recover from Covid-19 and restrategise in order to continue serving its various important communities in Tāmaki Makaurau. Without Neck of the Woods, many incredible local and international acts would not be where they are today, nor enabling future generations of musicians, artists, and collectives to be who they will become in future.”

At a time when the music industry’s rich only get richer, the effort of maintaining a space like Neck of the Woods for 11 years, the undeniable impact on its city and its community’s support is a lesson in how everyone should show up for the spaces and people who truly make a difference.

Those looking to involve themselves beyond donating are encouraged to share a letter template created by friend of the venue, Amber Liberté, designed for “contacting potential benefactors, be they organisations, arts patrons or simply better-off friends/relatives.”

In an update posted yesterday, Nympho shared that the campaign had received 1,200 individual donations in its first 24 hours.

“It shows those beyond our community what we already know to be true. Small venues are crucial,” they wrote.

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Jack Colquhoun is Mixmag ANZ's Managing Editor. Find him on Instagram.