Hit Australian band The Wiggles' 2021 tour of Aotearoa may be in danger of being delayed - but not if former leader of the Opposition Simon Bridges has anything to do with it.
The National Party MP revealed on Twitter that the 'Do the Propeller' hitmakers were granted permission to enter New Zealand, but failed to secure any managed isolation and quarantine (MIQ) spaces.
There are apparently none available in time to allow The Wiggles to make their first show in Invercargill on March 19.
"I've just drafted a letter to the powers that be asking that they do what they can so The Wiggles can do their 25 scheduled shows across New Zealand in March and April. Over 40,000 tickets have already been sold," said Bridges.
"The cast and crew have all approvals they need to come from Aussie but due to visa approval delays, the MIQ slots that were available aren't anymore."
Bridges also disclosed a rather amusing conflict of interest: "My two older children have grown up adoring The Wiggles and my youngest child, aged three, is obsessed by them and may well go to their Tauranga concert if it happens. I suspect any MP with kids under a certain age will have the same conflict."
The We're All Fruit Salad Tour was announced in November and includes gigs lined up in Auckland, Christchurch, Wellington, Tauranga, Dunedin, Palmerston North, Napier, Queenstown and Invercargill.
Some shows are already sold out.
Tour promoters Live Nation said in a statement: "We are working closely with the relevant authorities on the logistics for The Wiggles Tour, and we’re looking forward to welcoming them to New Zealand."
The Wiggles recently told Newshub they were especially keen to play for their Kiwi fans again - not just because COVID-19 stopped their touring in 2020, but because of how fans behave here.
"New Zealand audiences are the most laid-back in the world," Anthony the Blue Wiggle told Newshub.
"It doesn't mean they don't enjoy it, the audience is just as appreciative, they're just not screaming like they do in the US.
"I always thought Australia was the most chilled country in the world until I went to New Zealand. You guys teach us how to be even more laid back."
Earlier this year, the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) admitted that MIQ spaces 'extremely limited' until March.
