Organiser of Wanderlust festival in liquidation, owes $1.6m

The New Zealand company in charge of organising Wanderlust yoga festivals here and in Australia owes at least $1.6 million.

Yoga Events Australia New Zealand, directed and owned by Jonnie Halstead, was placed in liquidation on January 12, according to the first report from liquidator John Scutter.

It owes 128 creditors, including regional New Zealand and Australian councils, yoga teachers, event infrastructure hire companies, and media companies including Fairfax Media, which publishes The Press.

Australian yoga teacher and small-business owner Lee Holmes is owed A$850 (NZ$930) by Yoga Events for making two speeches at its Sunshine Coast Wanderlust festival in November.

She said it was a small amount compared with other presenters at the festival who were still owed up to A$25,000 each.

She only became aware that the festival was operated by a New Zealand registered company after it had been liquidated last week.

‘‘I had absolutely no idea. Every contract was signed off with Wanderlust.’’

Holmes said she was frustrated that the US company Wanderlust Holdings had not kept a better eye on Yoga Events’ finances.

‘‘They should know what their operators are doing.’’

Wanderlust co-founder Sean Hoess, who licensed the rights to operate the festival to Yoga Events here, said Halstead only told him of Yoga Events’ financial strife in December and the amount it owed shocked him.

He said last week that he would consider paying Yoga Events’ debts to save Wanderlust’s reputation. Holmes said she would be satisfied with that outcome and she expected Wanderlust to take responsibility.

Hoess said yesterday that he was in the process of confirming another event management company to take over the Wanderlust operating licence for New Zealand and Australia.

He plans to announce a progress update today.

Until a new partner is confirmed, it was uncertain if Wanderlust’s annual four-day music and yoga festival in Taupo¯ , set for March 8 to 11, would go ahead.

Tickets to the event had already been sold for up to $490 each when Yoga Events was put into liquidation this month.

Hoess said he had every intention for the event to go ahead, but, if it was to be cancelled, ticketholders would receive full refunds. A new partner would pick up the local contract for the Taupo¯ event.

The Taupo¯ District Council has funded the yoga event since it was introduced in its region three years ago.

Taupo¯ mayor David Trewavas said he wanted the festival to survive but the district council would only continue to fund it if Hoess came up with a ‘‘rock-solid plan’’ to save it.