The long-running American rock band took the stage shortly after 9pm to rapturous applause from the crowd of about 28,000.
Flea kicked the splits and the band took off on a three-minute unrecognisable but nevertheless impressive jam, before hitting their stride with Can't Stop.
Lead singer Anthony Kiedis then addressed the crowd, extolling "the sights, the sounds, the smells of Dunedin".
"I love Dunedin."
The band had clearly been reading the local news with an announcement that bassist Flea would be leaving the band to become New Zealand’s new prime minister.
"All politicians have to wear clown suits to work. That’s my only law."
Punters seemed to be on good behaviour, though there were a few vocal disagreements in the ticket line as several people apparently arrived to discover their tickets bought online were through dubious vendors, and had to shell out more money for the official entry fee.
The band’s newer songs received a mixed reaction but the change in atmosphere was palpable when they returned to some of their biggest hits like Californication and Snow (Hey Oh).
The acoustics of the stadium posed some issues for the band, with much of the vocals drowned out by the instruments in the early songs but adjustments were made and the sound quality improved as the set went on.
The veteran rockers retained incredible energy right up to their encore of Under the Bridge and a flawless Give it Away, which were met by massive cheers from the crowd.
Earlier, fellow Californian, American rapper Post Malone greeted Dunedin in all his greasy glory, playing a number of his biggest hits and a few new songs that he informed the crowd he was nervous to perform.
Rockstar, Sunflower and Congratulations reverberated throughout the stadium.
One sorry concert-goer was seen taken away by St John staff.
An apparently overwhelmed cell network also caused a few headaches for concert-goers.
Rumours of someone using audience members as a urinal made their way through the crowd before a man was led away by police in handcuffs before the main act.
A police spokeswoman said she was unaware of any arrests at the time.
