While some in the Katikati community were shocked to learn of the 2027 cancellation of the town’s biggest summer event, others weren’t surprised but more disappointed to see the festival’s hiatus.

The Katikati FunFest Charitable Trust, which is behind the annual AvoFest, this month announced that rising costs and economic pressures had forced the popular event to take a year-long break.

Trust chair Trevor Burgess said the decision not to hold a festival next year was not taken lightly and was made after looking at several alternatives. He said organisers were planning a “refreshed and revitalised” return in 2028.

Talisman Restaurant & Garden Bar co-owner Michele Reichmuth said AvoFest 2027’s cancellation was a significant loss for Katikati and the wider community. “AvoFest has become an important event for our town, both socially and economically. For the Talisman, it has traditionally been one of our busiest trading days of the year, and we accommodate festival-goers who travel to Katikati specifically for the event.”

An influx

Reichmuth said the festival provided an opportunity for local hospitality businesses to extend the experience for visitors beyond the event itself.

“While the festival is underway, we’re generally quieter, but as the afternoon progresses, we welcome people back into town. We increase our staffing levels and often arrange live entertainment in our garden bar, creating a relaxed atmosphere where visitors can enjoy a meal, unwind and finish their day.”

Head chef Mahesh Peters and Michele Reichmuth from the Talisman Hotel were presented the winning trophies by Greg O’Carroll – Seeka Client Relationship Manager, and announced by MC, Brian Kelly.

Reichmuth believed the economic benefits extended beyond the hotel.

“Katikati is already a busy destination over summer, but with many of our locals travelling away for the holidays, events like AvoFest provide a valuable additional influx of visitors.

“It puts our town on the map, attracts people from outside the region and encourages them to experience what Katikati has to offer. The benefits flow right throughout our community, from accommodation providers and hospitality businesses to retailers, supermarkets, service stations and other local operators. It’s an important boost during the summer trading period, and one that many businesses genuinely appreciate.”

Reichmuth said she acknowledged the increasing financial pressures facing event organisers, particularly in the current economic climate.” However, she thought it’s important that people understand how expensive it had become to organise and deliver events of this scale.

“The costs associated…have all increased significantly. As business owners, we’re experiencing many of these same pressures ourselves. Events like AvoFest face exactly the same difficulties, often on a much larger scale,” Reichmuth said.

“I sincerely hope this isn’t the end of AvoFest. Events like this are incredibly valuable to smaller communities, and I believe Katikati would be poorer without it.”

Kaimai View Motel manager Andy Clothier said he had recently taken on the business so couldn’t comment on past bookings related to the event. “All I can say is I’d expect it will make an impact.”

Break even (sidehead)

Katikati Community Board deputy chair Anne Henry said it would have been a hard decision for the trust to make and they wouldn’t have made it lightly. “It is a shame but with rising costs – you know times are tough – and an event such as this has to break even.”

Derek Masters, the chief executive of DMS Progrowers Ltd, which had sponsored the main stage of the event for the last few years, said it was disappointing that the 2027 AvoFest won’t proceed.

“It’s such a great event and we hear a lot of positive feedback from our avocado growers that it’s nice to see the good old avocado fruit get some recognition when compared to such a big dominance of Kiwifruit in the area.”

Masters said he was “confident that in the following year, 2028, DMS will again support this event”.

Paul Horak, a co-owner of Matahui Distillery, a festival vendor, said it had been a great event for the Western Bay “and we’ve loved being a part of it”. “We know how much work the volunteers put in. Costs for exhibitors and it seems the event organisers have increased sharply,” he said.

“Our own costs to attend increased significantly last year, largely because of higher licensing fees, which nearly tripled, so we understand the pressure the organisers are under.

“We’d love to see the festival return in 2028, and we’d welcome the chance to sit down with the organisers and [the] council early to help find a model that works for the community, the volunteers and local businesses that make it what it is.”

Jacqui Knight, the promotions manager of Katch Katikati, which held a contract with the Katikati FunFest Charitable Trust to organise the event on its behalf, said Katch Katikati’s board declined to comment on the event’s 2027 cancellation.