WOMAD, New Plymouth's iconic music, arts, and dance festival which takes place in March every year, has been cancelled for the first time in its sixteen 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-outbreak.
At the time, Womad UK - which oversees the global running of the event - said they would still continue.
But in a statement today, 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.
The Chief Executive of Taranaki's Chamber of Commerce, Arun Chaudhari told reporter Harry Lock it's a blow to the region.
