New Plymouth's iconic music, arts, and dance festival WOMAD, which takes place in March every year, has been cancelled for the first time in its 16 year history.
It comes less than a month after the long-term local organiser of the event, the Taranaki Arts Foundation Trust, announced they were pulling out.
They said they would risk losing millions of dollars, and even going bankrupt, if they faced a last minute cancellation due to a Covid-19 outbreak.
At the time, WOMAD UK - which oversees the global running of the event - said they would still continue.
But in a statement yesterday, the Director says negotiations with different organisers have been unsuccessful, and they wouldn't be able to deliver a festival to the standard they would want.
Hotels and hospitality businesses will be hit hard - having catered to thousands of out-of-towners every year
It comes after an incredibly difficult year on the hospitality and tourism front.
Daniel Fleming is the General manager of the King and Queen Hotel Suites He says losing WOMAD is a blow to the reigon.
