Kiwi fans of hit Australian entertainers The Wiggles can rest assured their upcoming New Zealand concerts are going ahead after all.
COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins confirmed on Friday that the band's tour group has been granted managed isolation spots after previously being told there were none, potentially putting the concerts at risk of being delayed or cancelled.
"The Wiggles have been accommodated, there has been a little bit of wiggle room for The Wiggles. Their concerts will be going ahead," Hipkins said.
Managed isolation and quarantine (MIQ) spaces are in hot demand for many New Zealand family members trying to return home - but the Government is emphatic that none were overtaken in the queue by the 'Hot Potato' hitmakers.
"New Zealanders are not being pushed out of the queue to accommodate The Wiggles," Hipkins said.
"They managed to accommodate them through - sometimes there are cancellations, rooms become available and I think they have managed to find a way to accommodate them."
The We're All Fruit Salad Tour was announced in November and includes concerts in Auckland, Christchurch, Wellington, Tauranga, Dunedin, Palmerston North, Napier, Queenstown and Invercargill.
Following the comments from Hipkins, tour promoters Live Nation told Newshub: "The Wiggles nationwide tour is moving forward as planned and we're continuing to work with relevant authorities to prepare for shows commencing in Invercargill on March 19, and finishing in Wellington on April 1."
The Wiggles were granted border exemptions on December 24 under the 'other critical worker' category, a month after sales had begun.
National Party MP Simon Bridges took to Twitter with a desperate plea on their behalf earlier this month after he learned they hadn't secured MIQ spaces.
He said his children grew up "adoring" The Wiggles and his three-year-old is "obsessed by them".
"I suspect any MP with kids under a certain age will have the same conflict," he said.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, whose daughter Neve turns three in June, responded by urging a "practical" solution.
"I would say to promoters who are bringing on performers into New Zealand, make sure you've booked your quarantine before you promote your dates. That would save issues," she said.
"It's for officials to work that through but there are people who have purchased tickets here, where despite errors having been made it's through no fault of their own, so obviously we have to find a practical way through this."
The Wiggles have not commented on the MIQ situation, but did recently tell Newshub they were especially keen to perform in New Zealand due to how Kiwi audiences behave.
"New Zealand audiences are the most laid-back in the world," said Anthony the Blue Wiggle.
"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."
Although some of the concerts have sold out, tickets are still available to most.
