Toto is heading to New Zealand in April. Photo / Supplied by Live Nation NZ

‘Thrilled’: Toto announce 3 NZ shows for 2025

Author: NZ Herald ,
Publish Date: Tue, 28 Jan 2025, 9:58am

Hold The Line, New Zealand – one of the most iconic bands of the 70s are heading to Aotearoa this year.

Toto are bringing their Dogz of Oz 2025 tour here in April, along with special guest Christopher Cross.

Starting with a show in Auckland at Spark Arena on Wednesday, April 23, Toto will then head to Wellington’s TSB Arena on Thursday, April 24. The New Zealand leg of the tour wraps up in Christchurch on Saturday, April 26.

The band is made up of Steve Lukathe (guitar/vocals), Joseph Williams (vocals) Greg Phillinganes (keyboards/vocals), Shannon Forrest (drums), John Pierce (bass), Warren Ham (horns/percussion/vocals) and Dennis Atlas (keyboards/vocals).

Toto, whose 1982 song Africa has been certified Diamond for the sale of 10 million copies in the US, last performed in New Zealand in 2019.

Christopher Cross is joining Toto on their New Zealand tour this April. Photo / Live Nation NZ

The song, which has become synonymous with the group, has been streamed 2 billion times on Spotify, while their hit Hold the Line has a billion plays on the streaming platform.

Lukather said he is “thrilled” to be bringing the tour to New Zealand.

“Christopher has been a close friend of mine for a long time,” he said of Cross.

“This is a tour that works musically, from an idea that germinated months ago that was able to take flight and become a reality. I could not be more thrilled.”

Toto and Cross performed together in September last year at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, and will tour Europe next month.

Cross, who won five Grammys for his 1980 self-titled debut album, also has an Oscar, a Golden Globe and an Emmy nomination to his name.

Tickets for all the NZ shows go on sale on Tuesday, February 4, at 9am. A presale for One NZ customers starts on Thursday, January 30, at 10am, while Mastercard holders will have access to a presale starting on Thursday, January 30, at 10am until Monday, February 3, at 10am.