The Aronui Indigenous Arts Festival, which was to take place from September 8 to 20, has been postponed.

The postponement of the two-week calendar of events in Rotorua is due to restrictions on large gatherings under Covid-19 Alert Level 2 and a new start date for the festival will be announced next month.

At this alert level, mass gatherings are restricted to 100 people with all events needing to follow strict physical distancing procedures. This year's headline act, Taurite by Hawaiki Tū, is currently in lock-down in Auckland under Alert Level 3 and their schedule has been affected which also impacts the opening plans for the festival.

Aronui Arts Festival Trust Chairwoman, Mercia-Dawn Yates, believes 'it is imperative at this time that we ensure the health and well-being of our performers, community, iwi and koeke.”

Festival Director Cian Elyse White led the difficult call after careful consultation with the trust, funders, iwi leaders and the artists.

'I'm incredibly proud of the Aronui team's efforts this year and even though we are ready to press go on this inspiring calendar of events, the latest announcement of community transmission in Auckland has made us pause and carefully consider our next steps as a festival,” Cian says.

'When it comes down to it, the safety and well-being of our koeke, iwi, community and artists is paramount, and putting our people at risk is simply not an option,” she says.

With events like the Aronui Māori Market, which has over 40 stalls, a team of 80 artists and an expected crowd of over 2000 people, the trust endorses the decision to hold off on the festival to avoid reducing numbers and lessening the impact of the kaupapa.

Te Arawa kaumatua, Sir Toby Curtis says Aronui is all about bringing people together to celebrate high-quality indigenous arts here in Te Arawa.

He says he was looking forward to seeing Te Pikikōtuku o Ngāti Rongomai on stage with Hawaiki Tū and believes that 'if we aren't able to be there safely and en masse to celebrate our people, we must postpone to a later date when we are free to do so.”

Mercia-Dawn says the Aronui arts festival team remain hopeful.

'Aronui isn't Aronui without the people and we are building a legacy in this space. This is not a cancellation, but rather a postponement.

"I look forward to us coming together at a later date to celebrate, uplift and inspire through indigenous arts, when it is safe to do so, without any restrictions.”

Full refunds will be issued via Ticketmaster who will be in touch directly with all ticket holders. Postponement dates will be released via social media and on the Aronui website at a later date, www.aronuiartsfestival.com.