"We spent a lot of time during the year organising the event. It's very disappointing for all of us - for the musicians coming to play, for the festival team, and for the audience."
National Jazz Festival general manager Mandy Ryan, pictured at one of the festival's events in 2018. Photo / File
"You do feel like you're letting down a lot of people ... our community misses out on the opportunity to get together and have the wonderful Easter music experience," Ryan said.
Ryan said she had been buoyed by support already shown from the community who were "incredibly understanding that Covid-19 is a threat to us".
Organisers were considering potential alternative dates for the 43rd National Youth Jazz Competition, which had been expected to be held on April 8 and 9 and involve 27 schools.
Meanwhile, the 21st Tauranga Multicultural Festival that was taking place on March 22 has been postponed.
Multicultural Tauranga president Ann Kerewaro said it was disappointing, as last year's festival was put off after the Whakaari/White Island tragedy and the year before it rained.
"We hope it will be some time later in the year but we don't know what's going to happen with the virus so we don't have a date yet."
Dipti Bhikha from the Soornoopor Bollywood dance group at a previous Multicultural Festival. Photo / File
The Bay of Plenty Speedway Championships expected to be held on March 21 at Baypark Stadium is off. Plans for future speedway events will be updated closer to those dates.
The Bay of Plenty Regional Council has called off its Happy Harbour Fun Day on March 21.
The news follows the postponement of Coromandel's Repco Beach Hop from next weekend to November.
The annual celebration of classic cars and rock and roll music in Whangamatā usually attracts more than 100,000 people. In a statement, organiser Noddy Watts said they had decided to push it back to November after discussions with health officials.
Beach Hop partygoers will have to wait before they can party at this year's event. Photo / File
He has warned the future of the event may be in jeopardy due to the financial hit of the postponement.
Thousands usually flock to Tauranga for the annual Jazz Festival, which has now been cancelled due to coronavirus concerns. Photo / File
In Rotorua, the Harcourts Dancing for Hospice and Xterra Rotorua Festival have been cancelled, and the Rotorua Night Market, Sunday Farmers' Market suspended.
Whakatāne's Oxfam Trailwalker this weekend and the Te Hui Ahurei a Tūhoe event at Easter are also off along with Taupō's Iron Māori this weekend.
