One of many evacuated concert-goers informed the Herald she was close to the entrance of the group when a safety guard got here on stage and interrupted Easy Minds frontman Jim Kerr.
There was an announcement that the live performance, which was held at Claudelands Oval, was being stopped and other people ought to get out and go away their belongings behind.
The lady mentioned it occurred in the direction of the tip of the live performance as Kerr was midway by way of the band’s hit tune Alive and Kicking.
She mentioned the group left the bottom in a relaxed, smart vogue because the rain started bucketing down, interspersed with lightning.
A police spokesperson mentioned they’d been made conscious the present had been stopped on account of lightning however weren’t conscious of any evacuation.
Newshub reported the ability that hosted the live performance posted a message to Fb urging attendees to evacuate.
“As a result of adversarial climate circumstances past our management, the present has come to an finish. Please stay calm,” it wrote.
“Stroll, don’t run, in the direction of one of many marked exit factors. Don’t cease to gather private belongings. Please help those that could need assistance and comply with the directions of safety and occasion workers.”
The Herald has approached occasion organisers for remark.
Earlier right this moment, MetService mentioned heavy rain watches had been issued for central components of the North Island protecting Waitomo, Taumarunui, Taupō and Tongariro Nationwide Park, in addition to the Bay of Lots’s japanese ranges.
The watches have been forecast to come back into impact from about 1pm right this moment till early tomorrow morning.
Nonetheless, the forecast heavy rain was anticipated to clear by tomorrow, with a couple of lingering showers in place.
As we speak is sort of a yr to the day since concert-goers attending the ill-fated Elton John live performance at Mt Good Stadium have been despatched packing after the gig was referred to as off on the final minute as a result of Auckland Anniversary weekend floods.
By Benjamin Plummer