Raggamuffin boss leaves unpaid bill

Raggamuffin, 2014. Photo / Stephen Parker

Raggamuffin concert promoter Andrew McManus still owes Rotorua $132,000 after moving his music festival to Auckland one year before his contract expired with the district council.

In early July the Rotorua District Council agreed to consider releasing Andrew McManus Entertainment from the final year of a five-year contract to stage Raggamuffin in Rotorua, "subject to certain outstanding obligations being fulfilled".

One of those obligations was a payment of $132,000, but interim Destination Rotorua Marketing/Events & Venues business unit chief executive Mark Rawson said Mr McManus had not yet settled his account with the council and was still bound by his contract.

"Arrangements to resolve the matter are ongoing but remain subject to confidentiality between the two parties at this stage," Mr Rawson said.

On July 2, Mr McManus announced he was taking the festival to Auckland.

He said he had "given Rotorua a good go" and took the event away due to a lack of numbers and declining profits.

He previously told the Rotorua Daily Post he lost more than $1 million from the concert this year, which was one of the reasons he wanted to be released from the contract.

The festival had been held in Rotorua since its inception in 2008.