Vendors at the Kumeū Easter Festival say they were misled by organisers about stall numbers and event conditions, and now face financial losses as backlash over the event widens beyond disappointed attendees.
The festival, marketed as a budget-friendly Easter event with rides, bouncy castles and food trucks, has already drawn criticism after attendees on Good Friday raised complaints over inconsistent pricing and unpleasant, underwhelming rides that fell short of what was promised.
Vendors at the event, being held at the Kumeū Showgrounds over Easter weekend, said promises made by organisers Bites & Beats before the vendors signed up and paid site fees differed from what they arrived at.
Zaine Oti, who operates the Jimmy’s Ice Cream events trailer through his business Ameliaz Limited, said vendors were assured only a small number of similar stalls would be present to guarantee fair competition.
“[We] were told, especially the ice cream vendors that I was talking to, that there were only going to be two ice cream vendors or two coffee carts,” he told the Herald.
“I signed up last-minute, but I wasn’t informed that there were going to be five or six on the lead-up to it. And obviously, that affects your income and return on your business.”
Vendors had paid up to $1600 to secure a site for the full five days, Oti said, while others were spending $400 for a single day.
He said the mismatch between expectations and reality, combined with negative feedback from attendees, was already impacting trading.
“With the reputation that’s going on on Facebook at the moment, I suggest yesterday was going to be the most profitable day,” he said.
“I go around having conversations with other vendors, and everyone’s target is just trying to make their deposit back.”
Another vendor initially scheduled to operate at the festival said they pulled out last week after key conditions were changed.
The owner of Blend NZ, which sells coffee, smoothie bowls and toasts, said she paid about $1200 last year to secure a site early with the promise of amenities like free power.
“One week prior to the event, they messaged us saying that we were to be fully self-sufficient,” she said.
“I couldn’t operate for five days like that.”
The woman said she pursued a refund but was refused, with a credit offered instead for a future event, and has since lodged a complaint with the Disputes Tribunal.
Oti also raised concerns about communication with organisers, saying vendors have struggled to get answers about the event’s shortcomings.
Many faced unexpected costs running generators after being told power would no longer be supplied, while also trying to recoup costs as attendance slumped.
“I’ve asked for a contact number of the best representative to bring up these concerns, and [the on-site manager] keeps telling me to email, but it’s something that will just never get answered,” Oti said.
Further problems stemmed from the event’s limited attractions and entertainment, which had already drawn criticism from attendees.
“It was pretty much essentially three bouncy castles and mini jeeps,” Oti said.
“You might wait an hour in line to get the bouncy castles or jeeps that last for five minutes.
“We noticed the trends of people leaving because there’s nothing keeping them here, no reason to stay.”
Oti said organisers reduced the entry fee to $5 and ride passes to $10 this morning, but believed it would not be enough to temper criticism.
“A lot of customers we saw when we were trading yesterday, you could see the disappointment on their face.”
John Pait, who bought tickets in advance for his family, said he drove 28km to the showgrounds to check out the event after seeing the negative reviews online.
“I got here and there’s literally two bouncy castles and a track with carts that the kids can drive around in,” he said.
“So we spent $80 on nothing.”
Pait said he had to request a refund from the on-site manager after failing to reach organisers by phone or email.
While he credited the manager for acknowledging his concerns, he described the event’s intentions as “pathetic”.
“I just said to my wife and kids, ‘You stay home, put a movie on. I don’t think there’s going to be anything’, and I was right when I got here.”
Despite major concerns with the entertainment, Oti said the event’s food offering was strong.
“It’s an awesome opportunity if you’re just coming to eat. I think it’s worth the value food-wise, but it’s not worth the value for the rides,” he said.
Yet by mid-afternoon, Oti said many vendors had left following a disappointing turnout.
Dozens of vendors were now chasing clarity and pushing for redress from organisers, with Oti saying that “something needs to be done” to address the fallout.
Bites & Beats have been approached for comment about vendors’ concerns.
Responding to queries yesterday following complaints from attendees, a spokesperson said pricing varied due to multiple pre-sale tiers that were “clearly advertised online” and designed to manage demand “and reduce wait times” for rides.
They said all rides were operated by an independent contractor, and concerns about safety and quality were being reviewed.
The festival remains scheduled to run until Tuesday, April 7.
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