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Source: McLaren Valley Festival/YouTube
A new three-day summer music festival headlined by Disclosure and The Flaming Lips is moving to Auckland after an outcry by neighbours of its Tauranga site.
McLaren Valley Music & Arts Festival was set to be held at McLaren Falls Park near Tauranga from January 10-12, but organisers say issues with neighbours at the site have forced the festival's move to Auckland and cut days down from three to two.
Festival director Paxton Talbot said ongoing negotiations with residents in the area failed to resolve a number of concerns.
"We have been working extremely hard for many months to go through the resource consent process, but ultimately we needed to make a decision to move the Festival," Talbot said.
"We did explore a range of other options in the Bay of Plenty and other areas, but Auckland is the best solution given the timeframe.
"We know so many people were excited about this Festival and we are sorry to disappoint our fans who have believed in the vision. We are working to create something special for the event in Auckland."
The festival would move to Auckland with the same acts, a press release issued today said. Talbot is working with artists on the bill about the relocation.
A venue is yet to be confirmed but the press release said it would be held in a "central Auckland location".
McLaren Falls was announced in July and promoted its outdoor venue as a key attraction.
The lake and bush setting is nestled below the Kaimai Ranges - and only 20 minutes drive from Tauranga - and features rolling hills, glow worm caves and forests, and an onsite camping experience amongst the wilderness.
McLaren Park.
Disclosure and The Flaming Lips are key headliners on a line-up that also includes Kurt Vile, Young Fathers, The Preatures, Alison Wonderland, The Chills, David Dallas, Avalanche City and CW Stoneking, among others.
The move is likely to irk Bay of Plenty residents who had bought tickets to the festival, but now have to travel to Auckland if they want to attend.
@publicaddress faaaark, have built all our family camping plans around this, with 4 other families
Refunds are available for those who can't attend the new festival, being held on January 11 and 12. More details, including a venue and the announcement of more acts, will be made on October 28.
It's the second new music festival for Auckland, with Auckland City Limits pegged for March 19 at Western Springs Stadium and being billed as a replacement for the Big Day Out.
Other summer festivals in the region include Laneway, Splore, Raggamuffin and Northern Bass.
The news comes after yesterday's axing of Auckland R&B festival Soulfest over low ticket sales.
