Busking in Dunedin: permit, rules and card tips

Do you need a permit to busk in Dunedin?

The rules in Dunedin

• Amplifiers. No amplification at the Octagon busking spots.
• Octagon: online booking, one hour slots, no amplification
• In the CBD keep a three metre clear path for pedestrians
• Under 14s need parent or caregiver consent
• Private property needs the owner's permission

Taking card tips on a Dunedin pitch

Plenty of people stop to listen and then find they have no coins on them. A QR code on a sign beside your case lets them tip in New Zealand dollars by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay from their own phone. Visitors can pay with a card from home, and nobody needs an app.

• Print it large. A phone reads a code from about ten times its width, so a 10 cm code works from a metre and an A3 sign from about three.
• Stand it upright at knee to waist height, with your name and one line saying what it is for.
• Playing as a group? One code can split every tip between the members automatically.

The full set-up is in cashless busking: card and phone tips.

Before you play

Read the general advice in busking etiquette and how to choose a busking pitch, and see how Dunedin compares with other cities on the world busking map.

Sources

Checked in October 2026. Rules and fees change, and enforcement varies from street to street, so confirm with Dunedin City Council before you play. This page is general information, not legal advice.

• dunedin.govt.nz
• dunedin.govt.nz

Common questions