Taupo loses coffee festival to Auckland

Taupo is waking up and smelling the coffee's gone.

The national coffee festival held in the town the past two years has been lost to Auckland.

The festival attracted more than 50 stands featuring coffee related- businesses and was also host to the finals of the National Barista Awards and New Zealand Coffee Awards.

Festival Director Michael Guy said moving the event to Auckland provided the opportunity for a much bigger, better event "in the heart of the cafe capital of New Zealand".

Destination Lake Taupo says it is unconcerned and is looking ahead to other opportunities.

Events marketing manager Warwick Hall said losing the festival was "just one of those small town things".

He was philosophical about the loss, saying the final decision came down to numbers and the festival had to move for commercial reasons.

"I suspect Auckland has more coffee drinkers," he said.

Mr Hall said losing the coffee festival meant Taupo could look at hosting other events instead.

- DAILY POST (ROTORUA)