Wanderlust Festival collapse impacts Australian and New Zealand suppliers and ticketholders

Businesses say they are owed thousands of dollars by the organisers of the Australian and New Zealand arm of popular global lifestyle and yoga festival Wanderlust, which has gone into liquidation.

The company had staged several festivals around both countries in the past four years, but filed for insolvency this month.

Wanderlust was last held at Twin Waters on the Sunshine Coast in November and was next scheduled to be held at Lake Taupo in New Zealand in March.

Several suppliers, performers and yoga teachers from the Sunshine Coast event told the ABC they had not been paid.

Booking agent Kimberley Ferguson said she was owed more than $10,000 and had not expected the collapse.

Ferguson stated "I was under the impression it was Wanderlust International that I had been working with directly but I later found out it was Yoga Events Australia and New Zealand, a contracted company that has gone into liquidation

"More and more people are coming out of the woodwork and expressing, whether it is $1000 or $27,000, that they have been let down by this company."

Ferguson said company Director Jonnie Halstead had kept delaying payments, advising "he said I would get it to you next pay roll, next month … by mid December he said he would have it to me at the end of December and that was when we lost contact with him.

"His phone number (is now) disconnected, his emails were bouncing.

"I understand that people go into liquidation … but the fact that he has been holidaying while I am struggling to pay my debts and bills is disgusting and I am really disappointed."

One yoga teacher, who asked to remain anonymous, said it was "unlikely" they would be paid.

The Wanderlust website says the four-day mindful living event brings together yoga and mediation instructors, musical performers, speakers, artists and chefs.

It is understood hundreds of tickets for the New Zealand event costing $490 each had already been sold.

The festival's parent company Wanderlust USA released a statement saying it hoped the event would go ahead, advising "Wanderlust USA is both shocked and saddened by the recent insolvency of our licensee for Australia and New Zealand, YEANZ Ltd.

"We recognise that many people who have contributed to the Sunshine Coast festival last October have been affected by this insolvency, and we will develop a plan to mitigate their losses shortly.

"At this moment, it's our priority to see that Wanderlust Great Lake Taupo goes forward in March at the same high level of quality as our yogis expect.

"We are close to securing a capable (and well-financed) new partner, and we hope to be able to make an announcement very shortly."

The US company said if the New Zealand event was cancelled all tickets would be fully refunded.

The Sunshine Coast Council and Tourism and Events Queensland have both sponsored the Queensland Wanderlust event in past year.

Sunshine Coast Council advised “we are surprised and disappointed to learn of issues regarding payment of suppliers and the subsequent insolvency of the promoter who held the Australian and New Zealand licence for Wanderlust, given the apparent success of the event and the strength of the global Wanderlust brand.” 

Images: Wanderlust Festival (top and below) and Jonnie Halstead (middle, courtesy of Facebook).

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