Rescue mission for yoga festival
The United States co-owner of the Wanderlust yoga festival is ‘‘upset’’ and ‘‘sorry’’ that the New Zealand company operating its event has gone under owing a ‘‘shocking amount of money’’.
Sean Hoess said he only became aware of Yoga Events Australia and New Zealand‘s financial strife two weeks ago, when he received emails claiming the company had not paid speakers and yoga teachers who attended its Sunshine Coast event in Australia last year.
Yoga Events, the company licensed to operate the Wanderlust festival here and in Australia since 2013, has now filed for insolvency.
Kapiti Coast-based insolvency firm Fervor was appointed to liquidate Yoga Events last week, the Companies Office register shows.
Hoess said he was now working to save the four-day Wanderlust yoga and music event planned for March 8-11 in Taupo¯ .
Hoess would not say how many tickets had already been sold but said sales were tracking better than last year. A ticket to attend the full four days costs $490.
Hoess was adamant the event would go ahead and damage to the international festival’s reputation would be contained.
Cancelling would ‘‘hurt a lot of people,’’ but if it had to happen all ticket holders would receive refunds, he said.
‘‘I do not want that to happen. I want this event to go forward and there is no reason to think it cannot. We have sold a good amount of tickets, the talent is planning to come and really it’s just about the community being willing to trust that we can pull it off.’’
He said he was in talks with three companies in Australia and New Zealand who were interested in taking over the licence to operate Wanderlust events here.
A new partner would pick up the local contracts signed with attendees, suppliers and venues.
The Taupo¯ District Council has funded the festival in its region for its past three years.
Mayor David Trewavas could not disclose how much money it had given to the now defunct Wanderlust operator here, citing commercial sensitivity, but it was ‘‘not moonbeams’’.
He was now reassessing funding of the event and would only continue to do so if Hoess came up with a ‘‘rock solid’’ rescue plan to save its reputation.
Hoess said his plan was not rock solid yet. ‘‘But give me four days. We ask for patience.’’
He would consider settling payments personally with all attendees and suppliers owed money from Yoga Events.
‘‘It is not my legal obligation to pay debts (incurred by Yoga Events), but we do recognise that these actions were done in the name of Wanderlust, if by a different company, and we are going to do our best to make amends.’’
Yoga Events owner Jonnie Halstead did not return calls seeking comment.