Split Enz have announced arena shows in Wellington and Auckland this May following their first performance in 18 years.

The band played their 1,000th gig at Electric Avenue Festival in Christchurch last Friday in front of 45,000 fans.

Live Nation confirmed the Forever Enz Tour will include a show at Spark Arena on Saturday, May 9.

Presale tickets are on sale now, with general public tickets available from Thursday, March 5 at 12pm.

“Aotearoa, rugged individual!” said Tim Finn. “We’re looking forward to climbing into our new Noel Crombie suits and seeing you all soon. The songs are sounding shiny and new… if music be the food of love, Split Enz are the silverware!”

The live line-up features Tim Finn, Neil Finn, Eddie Rayner and Noel Crombie, plus Matt Eccles on drums and James Milne on bass.

The band last performed in New Zealand in March 2008 at Vector Arena, now called Spark Arena.

Split Enz live. Photo: Supplied

Formed in New Zealand in 1972 before relocating to Australia in 1975, Split Enz were inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame in 2005.

Their 1980 album “True Colours” reached number one and achieved multiple-platinum status in New Zealand, and was certified five times platinum in Australia with sales of more than 250,000 copies.

This year marks the 51st anniversary of their debut album “Mental Notes”.

That album and the band’s catalogue are part of the Enzyclopedia re-release series, first released in November 2025 via Chrysalis Records globally and Warner Music locally in Australia and New Zealand.

The May shows mark a return to arena stages for the band, with tickets now available for fans keen to see the reunion live.

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