Major Rotorua events cancelled in coronavirus fallout

A wave of coronavirus-related cancellations and postponements have nearly cleaned out Rotorua's major events calendar for the next few weeks.

Rotorua Racing confirmed today the race meet at Arawa Park tomorrow would not be open to the public after a directive handed down by New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing.

Morning All, RRC has been given a directive from NZTR, that there will be no General Admission to the races held at...

Posted by Arawa Park - Rotorua Racecourse on Monday, 16 March 2020

The Harcourts Dancing for Hospice, which raises money and awareness for Rotorua Community Hospice Trust, has also been cancelled.

The Rotorua Dancing for Hospice event is one of the latest to be cancelled in response to coronvirus. Photo / File

Hospice fundraising and marketing manager Nicola Smallwood said the team was "absolutely gutted" but the decision had to be made.

"Obviously the community safety is paramount," she told the Daily Post.

"The money raised from that helps our services and helps provide care for our patients who are going to be among the most vulnerable if Covid-19 develops futher in New Zealand.

"Our hearts go out to all of the businesses affected in the community."

In a letter to sponsors and supporters this afternoon, Smallwood said they were aware Covid-19 had likely had an impact on them, their business and the wider Rotorua community.

"We will continue to care for over 100 patients and their whanau every month. The wellbeing of Rotorua Community Hospice patients, staff and volunteers is always our top priority."

The health service was still operating normally "but we continue to assess the situation and put plans in place to care for some of the most vulnerable people in our community".

"As an organisation built on community, let's work together to help stop the spread."

This year's Xterra race has been cancelled due to coronavirus. Photo / File

The ever-popular Thursday Rotorua Night Market and Sunday Farmer's Market have been suspended until further notice.

Organisers of the Xterra Rotorua Festival confirmed online the April 4 event was cancelled.

The Xterra website stated: "It is a sad time around the world, the escalating situation with Covid-19 is having an impact on everyone and everything. Our thoughts and best wishes go out to those dealing with this worldwide pandemic. We have now been affected by this pandemic."

Organiser Paul Charteris said in a statement on Facebook that while the financial effect on the business could be extreme, the human cost could be even greater.

Organisers were possible feeling much worse about the situation than entrants as they "have put their heart and soul into the event and would have been so proud ...".

Charteris also asked entrants not to ask for a refund or a deferment to the following year to help save the "very existence of the event".

He also asked entrants to do what they could to support the people in the community whose livelihoods were most heavily impacted.

Your trail running race has been cancelled, here is how it looks on the organisers side of the fence. Firstly, most...

Posted by Paul Charteris on Monday, 16 March 2020

He estimated a loss of 60 to 70 per cent of costs which had already been spent on the race.

"The big 'hidden'... costs are associated with health and safety compliance, operational planning, people planning, land owner access etc. These can (and do) add up to hundreds of hours of work.

"On the revenue side, race entries always make up the bulk of income - but support from sponsors and sales of merchandise can easily account for 30% of total income. This is income that will not happen if an event is cancelled," he said.

Events such as the Oxfam charity walk in Whakatāne have been cancelled. Photo / file

Taupō's popular Iron Maori event has been called off. More than 550 people were registered to take part in the event this Saturday.

Whakatāne's Oxfam Trailwalker 2020 due to be held this weekend has also been cancelled.

Arianna, 8, Lucia Ehrler, 10, enjoy a dance during the 2019 National Jazz Festival carnival in Tauranga. Photo / File

A Te Hui Ahurei a Tūhoe event that was expected to draw thousands to Waimana this Easter will not be happening. Up to 15,000 people were expected to attend the festival.

In Tauranga, organisers of the annual Jazz Festival which is traditionally held each Easter confirmed last night the event was cancelled and in Whangamatā, the much-loved Beach Hop has been postponed to later in the year.