Womad woes

No blame can be attached to the Taranaki Arts Festival Trust (TAFT) for its decision to withdraw from Womad 2021. Their tightrope budget act could not bear an event ruined by a repeat level 3 in Auckland. Nor is quarantining visiting artists feasible. But for the regional and city councils not to underwrite an event which has brought employment and cultural renown to New Plymouth is reprehensible.

That businesses, profiting over a decade from the swell in visitor numbers, cannot urge councillors to support Womad beggars belief. The principal betrayal, though, lies in England, where Womad UK has pulled the rug out from under TAFT and plans to stage an event consisting of only NZ acts. This is a colossal cheek and a breach of contract with

Taranaki. It will fail to resemble a Womad and will ‘‘damage the brand’’. If they are so flush, why could Womad UK not support our Brooklands Park event? Will they take over other Womad festivals, too? Then again, England has been betraying Aotearoa from before Parihaka to the desertion of New Zealand for the EEC.

I call upon Taranakians and lovers of world music to boycott any alternative festival and support TAFT’s recovery of Womad NZ after this viral epoch passes.

DL Calder, The Folk Music Hour, Access Radio Taranaki