Rotorua's ARONUI Indigenous Arts Festival has become the latest event to be scuppered by the Covid-19 pandemic, with organisers announcing a decision to postpone the festival.

The festival was set to run from September 8-20, but organisers decided to axe the event in the face of level 2 restrictions on large gatherings, and the fact headline act, ‘Taurite' by Hawaiki Tu, is currently in lockdown in Auckland.

'It is imperative at this time we ensure the health and wellbeing of our performers, iwi and koeke,” says festival trust chair Mercia-Dawn Yates.

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,” says Cian.

'Putting our people at risk is simply not an option.”

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 (in alignment with last year's market numbers), the trust backed the decision to hold off on the festival to avoid reducing numbers and lessening the impact of our kaupapa.

Te Arawa leader, Sir Toby Curtis, backed the move.

'ARONUI is all about bringing people together to celebrate high-quality indigenous arts here in Te Arawa,” says Toby.

'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.”

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. http://www.aronuiartsfestival.com.