Wanderlust boss cancels yoga festival
Wanderlust has pulled the pin on its four-day Taupo¯ yoga festival planned for March after its New Zealand organiser went into liquidation this month.
The chief executive of United States company Wanderlust Holdings, Sean Hoess, announced the cancellation yesterday after failing to find another event management company to take over the licence for the festival.
He said ticket holders would receive a full refund within two weeks. He would not say how many tickets had been sold to the event. Tickets cost up to $490 each.
Hoess was in talks with six event companies in Australia and New Zealand last week, but no licensing partnership was agreed.
Yoga Events Australia New Zealand (YEANZ) held the licence for the Wanderlust festivals here and in Australia. It went under, owing at last $1.6 million to Wanderlust, regional councils, yoga teachers, and speakers who had still not been paid for attending its Sunshine Coast event last year.
Hoess said the liquidation came as a shock to the US company.
‘‘Unfortunately, given the very short timeline and financial challenges caused by YEANZ’s insolvency, we could not find a partner who is willing to produce the Taupo¯ festival,’’ Hoess said in a statement yesterday.
‘‘We therefore regretfully announce the cancellation of Wanderlust Great Lake Taupo¯ 2018.’’
The Taupo¯ event ran for three years, funded by the Taupo¯ District Council.
Taupo¯ mayor David Trewavas said last week that the council would only continue to fund the event if Hoess came up with a ‘‘rock solid plan’’ to save it.
Hoess said Wanderlust ‘‘will be back’’. The company would continue to search for an events firm to pick up the licence, he said.
Hoess said last week that Wanderlust would consider paying debts owed by YEANZ.