The Powerstation guide: ID, trains, parking and all-ages

The Powerstation is a standing-room rock venue at 33 Mount Eden Road, Eden Terrace, just up the hill from the Auckland CBD. Wikipedia puts its capacity at 1,000, and the venue calls itself an "unassuming black box". It's a compact room, so you're never far from the stage.

Two things catch people out here. Shows are R18 unless the listing says otherwise, and the venue's own transport page still talks about "Mount Eden" station on the "Western Line". Both of those names changed when the City Rail Link opened on 13 September 2026. The station is now Maungawhau. Everything below was checked against the venue, Auckland Transport and Ticketmaster on 26 September 2026. For more gigs around town, see concerts in Auckland.

Quick facts

Can under-18s go to the Powerstation?

Only if the show is advertised as all ages. The venue's licensing page is blunt about it: "Unless stated otherwise, all Powerstation shows are R18." Coming with a parent doesn't change that for an R18 show, so check the age rule on the listing before you buy a ticket for anyone under 18.

When a show is sold as both All Ages and Licensed R18, the venue splits the room. In its words, there will be "two very separate & well-monitored areas", and "The unlicensed All Ages area of the venue will be totally alcohol-free." Under-18s are kept to that area, and you can't carry a drink into it. Over-18s can use the alcohol-free area too. Ticketmaster's venue page says the all-ages section is upstairs and downstairs is licensed, but that page carries some older copy, so confirm on the night.

Two more rules for families:

• Under 15s "must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian."
• Pickups: "There will be security monitoring the outside of the venue post-show for around 20 minutes only."

What ID does the Powerstation accept?

The venue's licensing page lists these, word for word: "a current NZ passport, a current NZ driver's licence, HANZ 18+ card, or Kiwi Access Card."

That's a shorter list than a lot of people assume. An overseas driver's licence isn't on it, and each item has to be current. If you're visiting from Australia or further away, bring your passport. Ticketmaster's venue page has an older list that leaves out the Kiwi Access Card. The venue's own page is the one to trust.

The venue also reminds people that it's an offence under liquor licensing law for it to admit, or keep on site, anyone it considers intoxicated. Pre-drinking too hard is a quick way to watch the gig from the footpath.

How do I get to the Powerstation?

It's on Mount Eden Road, a short trip out of the CBD, and public transport is the easy option. Parking is scarce.

Train: Maungawhau station

The nearest station is Maungawhau, which used to be called Mount Eden. It was rebuilt as part of the City Rail Link and reopened when the CRL started carrying passengers on 13 September 2026. Tātaki Auckland Unlimited says the venue is "around a 5-minute walk from Maungawhau Station".

As of Auckland Transport's page (last updated 12 September 2026):

• Maungawhau is an interchange between the East West Line and the Onehunga West Line.
• There's one main entrance, on Ruru Street.
• From the Mount Eden Road side, you reach it via Nikau Street or Shaddock Street. From New North Road, it's Ngahura, Ruru, Korari or Flower Streets.
• There are four platforms. Platform 1 heads to the city via Karanga-a-Hape, Platform 2 goes west to Kingsland, and Platform 3 heads to the city via Grafton.

AT says the East West Line runs between Swanson and Manukau through the CRL loop. The Onehunga West Line runs Onehunga to Henderson off-peak, and Onehunga to Maungawhau at peak times.

Bus

The venue says several bus routes stop right outside on Mount Eden Road, or around the corner on New North Road. AT lists these routes for the area around Maungawhau:

Plan your exact trip with the AT journey planner.

Taxi and rideshare

The venue says plenty of local taxi companies will pick up from and drop off at the venue, and its transport page gives a rough fare from the CBD. It doesn't publish a set pickup point for taxis or rideshare.

Getting home after the show

The main act usually starts around 9.30pm, so you'll be heading home late. Neither the venue nor AT's station page gives last-train times, and the timetable has only just changed with the CRL. Check the AT journey planner for your line on the day, and have a bus or taxi as a backup.

Is there parking at the Powerstation?

Not much. The venue says "There is no designated venue parking available, although limited street parking can be found on surrounding streets." Tātaki Auckland Unlimited warns that parking "can be limited on busy event nights".

The one car park to know is the Upper Symonds Street Pay & Display Carpark, on the corner of Mount Eden Road and Symonds Street, across the road from the venue. Ticketmaster calls it "a small, uncovered public car park". It's paid. The venue doesn't give rates or opening hours, so check the signs when you park. And since it's small, don't count on a space on a sold-out night.

Bag policy: what can you bring?

This is where a lot of search results go wrong. The Powerstation doesn't publish a bag policy, a prohibited-items list or a re-entry policy on its own site or its Ticketmaster venue page (checked 26 September 2026). Reseller pages that claim to give its bag rules are mostly generic advice that has nothing to do with this venue.

What we do know:

• There's a coat check, which the venue says is "available at the venue, at a nominal cost." So it's paid, but it's there.
• The room is mostly standing and it gets packed, so a small bag is easier to manage.

If you're bringing anything bigger than a small bag, or you're wondering about cameras or re-entry, check with the venue or read the conditions on your show's ticketing page.

Seating, standing and capacity

It's general admission. The venue says the "audience is mostly standing, although very limited seating can be found both upstairs and downstairs." There are no reserved seats, so if you need to sit, arrive early and grab one of the few spots, or have a word with security.

Wikipedia gives the capacity as 1,000. The venue itself doesn't list a number.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair access: the venue is wheelchair accessible.
• No dedicated wheelchair area: the venue says it doesn't have allocated seating for wheelchair users. If you arrive early and speak to security, they'll "find a place for you within the venue with a good view".
• Not published: accessible toilets, lifts between the upstairs and downstairs levels, hearing loops and companion ticket arrangements. None of these are covered on the venue's pages. Check with the venue before the show if any of them matter to you.

Food and drink

R18 shows are licensed, and there's a bar. Tātaki Auckland Unlimited says the bar staff are "always really friendly" and there's "a great range behind the bar". The venue's pages don't mention food, so eat before you arrive. Mount Eden Road and the city are both close by.

At all-ages shows, alcohol stays in the licensed area. Nobody can take a drink into the all-ages section.

Tickets, doors and set times

• Where to buy: the venue's buying tickets page says tickets are sold through AAA Ticketing or Ticketmaster, and each show's link tells you which one.
• Resale: the venue warns that tickets bought from a third-party reseller may not get you in. Stick to the ticketing agent listed for your show.
• Door sales: "Door sales are available for all shows open to the general public, subject to availability." If a show is sold out, there won't be any.
• Times: the venue says a typical night runs doors 8.00pm, support 8.30pm, main act 9.30pm. That's a general guide, and some shows differ. The venue suggests checking the event page on the day, or its Facebook page.
• Ticket collection: Ticketmaster's venue page says collection isn't available on event night and tickets must be collected beforehand from a Ticketmaster outlet. It may be older text, so if you have a physical ticket to collect, check your booking.

A bit of history

The building has been an entertainment venue for a long time. Wikipedia's timeline goes like this:

• 1950s: opened as a "dine-and-dance" venue
• Early 1980s: Dirty Dicks, a themed restaurant run by Phil Warren and Don Lillian
• April 1986: became Galaxy, a live music venue, with The Asylum house club launched inside it that October
• April 1988: reopened as The Powerstation, after a consortium led by Chris Cole and Doug Rogers bought it
• 2008: turned into Bar Retro, an 80s-themed bar
• 2009: bought by Peter Campbell after Bar Retro went into receivership
• 2010: the Pixies played their first New Zealand show here

The venue says it's been running live music "for over 30 years". Its list of past acts includes the Beastie Boys, Ramones, Soundgarden, Radiohead, Public Enemy, Marilyn Manson, Snoop Dogg, Kendrick Lamar, Lorde and Wolf Alice.

Before you go

• Check your show's age rule. No mention of all ages means R18.
• Bring accepted ID: a current NZ passport, current NZ driver's licence, HANZ 18+ card or Kiwi Access Card. Visitors, bring your passport.
• Check door and set times on your event page.
• Plan your train to Maungawhau (not "Mount Eden"), or a bus along Mount Eden Road or New North Road.
• Look up the last train or bus home before you leave.
• If you're driving, allow time to find a park, since there's no venue car park.
• Pack light. If you have a coat or a bigger bag, the coat check is paid.
• Collecting a teenager? Be outside when the show ends. Security is only there for about 20 minutes.

Upcoming shows at The Powerstation