4 Apr 2018

Sheeran and Warbirds bring $11.3m boost to Otago economy

4:26 pm on 4 April 2018

Ed Sheeran and Warbirds Over Wanaka boosted Paymark spending in Otago by $11.3 million over Easter Weekend.

This is Sheeran's sixth trip to New Zealand.

This is Sheeran's sixth trip to New Zealand. Photo: RNZ/Dan Cook

Paymark figures showed retail spending in Otago from last Wednesday to Monday this week was up almost 28 percent on last Easter.

Conversely, spending in the country's largest regions was down 1.9 percent.

A Paymark spokesperson said the combined presence of the British star and the biennial air show were responsible for the spending surge.

Sheeran's three shows were predicted to give a $34m boost to Dunedin's economy over the four days he was in the city.

A yak3 at the Warbirds Over Wanaka show.

A yak3 at the Warbirds Over Wanaka show. Photo: Twitter / Paul Stewart