Anger over Mudtopia takings
Mudtopia organisers have revealed they made just $117,000 from the event that cost $1.48 million to put on.
The preliminary figures released by Rotorua Lakes Council said approximately 12,000 mud passes were snapped up, and approximately 2000 people attended the Saturday night concert.
The figures did not include the number of free passes given away. However the Taxpayers’ Union had been told around 10,000 tickets were given away.
It also revealed the festival, which ran from December 1 to 3, achieved a total revenue of $117,000, leaving ratepayers with $437,000 in total costs.
The news has been met with anger by the spokesperson for the Taxpayers’ Union, Jordan Williams.
‘‘The event was basically a ‘renta-crowd’, paid for by government grants and ratepayer money,’’ he said.
‘‘We are stunned that some councillors consider this event successful on the basis that people ‘had fun’. The combined ratepayer and taxpayer subsidies were $55 per Rotorua household.
‘‘Perhaps the councillors who think the event offered good value for money should go ask pensioners on fixed incomes whether they think the mud was a good use of their $55?
‘‘Rotorua has one of the most irresponsible councils in New Zealand. A three-ring circus would have been a lot cheaper than this mud festival – and probably better organised.’’
In July the Taxpayers’ Union presented Rotorua Mayor Steve Chadwick and Rotorua Lakes District Council a ‘Supreme Certificate of Achievement and Imagination’ in relation to their decision to import $90,000 of mud from South Korea.
That plan was later abandoned. Organisers had earlier said attendance numbers were lower than hoped for, and the report cited event timing, proximity to Christmas and an oversupply of concerts in the marketplace as challenges.
It was also revealed that funding totalled $907,000 – a against budget of $80,000.
Sponsorship was also $60,000 budget at $35,000.
The total cost of the festival was revealed to be $1.48 million, $200,000 less than the initial business case.
The council also estimated Mudtopia contributed $285,000 to Rotorua’s accommodation sector with 1556 bed nights.
A full debrief and report will be presented to councillors in the new year to discuss future Mudtopia events. external shortfall
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"The combined ratepayer and taxpayer subsidies were $55 per Rotorua household."
Taxpayers' Union spokesman Jordan Williams