Warbirds over Wanaka cancelled
Warbirds Over Wanaka has been cancelled because of the Government response to coronavirus.
The biennial airshow, which features historical military aircraft, was due to run over Easter weekend.
It was expected to attract about 55,000 people over three days and contribute an estimated $20 million to Wanaka’s economy.
Organisers pulled the pin based on the travel conditions that came into effect today which require almost everyone entering the country to self-isolate for 14 days, and because of impending restrictions on large public gatherings.
General manager Ed Taylor said a small team of volunteers had spent two years building up to the event.
‘‘To have it ripped out from under us at the last minute is tough,’’ Taylor said.
‘‘Warbirds Over Wanaka is a bucket-list event for many international airshow fans and they are just gutted that their trip of a lifetime to come to New Zealand has been called off so late in the piece.’’
Organisers considered other options such as postponing or holding an airshow just for locals but decided to cancel because of uncertainty over how the pandemic would play out.
‘‘Warbirds is a major contributor to the Wanaka economy with an estimated $20 million economic benefit every airshow and so the effects will be felt well beyond the airshow gates with accommodation, hospitality and other activity providers expected to take a hit this Easter,’’ Taylor said.
Taylor said the organising team was already working towards the next show in 2022.
Many events across the country have been cancelled because of coronavirus, including the March 15 terror attack memorials in several cities, comedian Russell Brand’s tour, and the Pasifika Festival in Auckland.
The New Zealand Festival of the Arts in Wellington has been canned on its final day and the city’s mayor, Andy Foster, has confirmed he may pre-empt Government measures by stopping CubaDupa and Homegrown.