Promoters vying to get international acts on Kiwi stages are frustrated at what some call a hit and miss border approvals.

Promoters Association vice-president Gray Bartlett is a patron of the Variety Artists club, and has brought in acts such as Michael Jackson and Pavarotti.

However, since the borders closed in March, he has struggled to get approval for certain acts to come here.

Bartlett says the border approvals don't make sense and he calls it a 'game of favourites'.

"Every time I've applied for artists, top speakers willing to give part of their earnings to kids in crisis, have got turned down within a week for [events in] March this year." 

He says the event industry is struggling, and artists who've tested negative should be allowed.

"We've been completely crippled. Most of the people are running out of funds to contract acts for even a year or two from here." 

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