REVIEW: Hilary Duff’s Spark Arena Debut Was Truly What Dreams Are Made Of

Last night, Hilary Duff kicked off the Australasian leg of her global tour right here at Auckland’s Spark Arena, marking her first-ever performance in New Zealand.

The crowd understood the assignment. Spark Arena was a sea of pastel pink, sequins and butterfly hair clips, but underneath all the glitter was something a little deeper - it was all of our inner child getting to sing our hearts out in the same room as the pop star we grew up with as 'Lizzie McGuire'.

Heading into the arena, I already knew we were in for a nostalgic night. But seeing her step out singing ‘Wake Up’, followed by her first performance of ‘The Getaway’ on tour since 2008, proved this show was going to be something special.

Duff took us on a whirlwind journey through her entire career, complete with four distinct outfit changes. She went from casual chic in crop tops and baggy jeans to a lacy silk dress, a classic Mickey Mouse T-shirt as a nod to her Disney past, and a show-stopping liquid silver sequin dress to finish the show.

Between sets, video interludes offered emotional reflections on her career. One reel showcased her journey from a little girl to behind-the-scenes glimpses of 'Lizzie McGuire', movie snippets from 'Raise Your Voice' and her iconic 2000s red carpet moments.

Another reel, following ‘Holiday Party’, took us right into the recording studio with her husband, Matt, offering an intimate look at the process of writing and recording her newest music, along with the vulnerability that came with it.

The energy inside Spark Arena didn’t dip for a single second throughout the performance, from both Duff and the crowd.

During ‘The Getaway’, a girl in a pink top in the crowd absolutely killed the spoken-word bridge, doing us millennials proud.

Before performing ‘With Love’, Duff brought two fans on stage to join her for the full dance breakdown. It was a hilarious nod to her infamous 2007 TV performance, which has since become the iconic “go girl, give us nothing” TikTok meme.

Being the good sport that she is, Duff has made the dance a regular bit during each gig. And the Kiwi pair ABSOLUTELY ACED every step!

ollowing ‘Future Tripping’, Duff hit the crowd with the classic Disney Channel Wand ID, causing the entire arena to erupt in a roaring cheer.

Duff slowed things down after ‘You, From The Honeymoon’ to talk openly about her return to music. She candidly admitted she hadn’t known whether her music "still mattered" or if she had "anything left to say". She shared how the fierce, loyal welcome from fans this year had felt like a total “dream sequence”.

She kept us all hooked between the heavy hitters with effortless banter, including a moment where she tried to guess which iconic NZ drink was hiding inside her stage mini-fridge.

The crowd shouted “L&P!”, leaving her very confused. Sure enough, she pulled out a can and cracked it open, describing it as “citrusy and bright... not to compare, but Fresca-adjacent”.

Duff then made her final outfit change into a stunning, liquid-like silver sequin dress, showing off her absolute “ladder app” physique - IYKYK.

A final, L’Oréal-coded commercial clip played on screen, offering a sweet peek into her home life with wholesome videos of her kids and husband, while a voiceover reflected on finding love and purpose in her work.

Seeing her transition seamlessly from pop star to mum created a genuinely warm atmosphere in the packed arena, where plenty of mother-daughter duos were watching on.

Closing out the night with ‘Mature’ and the ultimate throwback anthem ‘What Dreams Are Made Of’, Duff sent balloons cascading through the arena as butterfly confetti filled the air. It was the perfect end to a night that felt like one giant party.

Hilary Duff proved that her comeback isn’t just a temporary hit of nostalgia. It’s an artist fully stepping back into the spotlight, and if last night was any indication, this global tour is shaping up to be a triumphant victory lap.

What a way to kick off the Australasian leg!

Set list:

• Wake up 

• So Yesterday 

• Roommates 

• Weather for Tennis

• The Getaway

• Breathe in. Breathe out. 

• Sparks

• Future Tripping

• Beat of My Heart

• You, From the Honeymoon

• Anywhere But Here 

• Growing Up 

• Fly 

• Holiday Party 

• We Don’t Talk 

• Why Not 

• Adult Size Medium 

• Come Clean 

• Mature 

• What Dreams Are Made Of

Photos: Ricky Langdon for rova