File photo.
Photo: Supplied
The decision on whether the two main WOMAD partners stay on or not is yet to be made.
It was announced this week that next year’s WOMAD will take a “purposeful rest” which has raised questions around who is going to fund the next three-day event.
Taranaki kaupapa Māori health provider Tui Ora had signed on as an event partner for WOMAD New Zealand in 2023, alongside long-time sponsor TSB.
Tui Ora had a three-year contract from the 2024 festival to 2026.
“Tui Ora tautoko WOMAD Aotearoa and the very difficult decision to take a rest year in 2026. As a proud event partner, we will continue to kōrero about the best way forward for the future of this iconic festival,” Pou Tū Kūrae (ceo) of Tui Ora Alana Ruakere said.
Meanwhile, TSB had only committed sponsorship for the 2026 festival.
A TSB spokesperson said that any decision on the running of WOMAD in 2027 and beyond is something that sits with TAFT (Taranaki Arts Festival Trust) and the WOMAD board.
TAFT chief executive Suzanne Porter said their next piece of work is to establish the underpinning regional support.
WOMAD NZ has been in New Plymouth since 2003 and has been cancelled twice before due to Covid.
Porter told Morning Report the festival and event industry worldwide has taken a hit post-Covid.
“It’s a four-point thing that has happened really – we’ve had rising costs, since 2020, our costs have risen by 30 percent. At the same time we’ve held our ticket pricing because of the cost of living crisis.
“And we’ve had diminishing partnership support in Taranaki, not just TAFT, but there’s been a big shift here with the past government’s decision on oil exploration with oil and gas exiting the region so there’s a lot less money to go around in sponsorship with a lot more of us going for it.”
She said it has been the perfect storm.
“We also notice that some sponsors are wanting to move into that well-being, social equity and community resilience initiatives rather than traditional sponsorship.”
Due of the Bowl of Brooklands capacity to host a 15,000 in the small region, Porter said sponsorship is a key part.
“Believe me we’ve been trying since 2025 WOMAD to get some extra monies in.”
Last year’s festival generated over $13 million in economic benefits to the region.
Porter said the cancellation of next year’s event will “allow us to regroup” and is confident “as can be” that WOMAD will return.
“I think there will be be a real will from everybody to get this back up and happening again.”
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