Call for cheaper Crankworx tickets for locals

Councillor Tania Tapsell wants the council to look into providing cheaper tickets for locals wanting to attend Crankworx. PHOTO/FILE

A call to offer cheaper Crankworx tickets for locals will be looked into by Rotorua Lakes Council staff.

Councillor Tania Tapsell raised the question of cheaper options for locals at a meeting of the council today , but it could be too late as tickets have been on sale for a few months already.

The Rotorua Crankworx festival is the only one of the four Crankworx festivals held worldwide to charge admission fees.

Entry is free for the slope-style event, otherwise tickets cost $45 a day for adults and $35 for children aged between 5 and 14.

A multi-day pass costs $80 for adults and $60 for children.

"I'm concerned about the affordability of Crankworx for local families and the cost for them to attend," Ms Tapsell said.

She asked council chief executive Geoff Williams to get staff to report on the issue.

Mayor Steve Chadwick said she understood Ms Tapsell's concerns and supported her request.

But deputy mayor Dave Donaldson, who is on the Crankworx board and stood down from the debate but took questions from councillors, said it would probably be too late to make any changes because tickets had been on sale for months.

However he said he had received similar feedback about ticket prices.

Mr Williams said a report would came back to the next council committee meeting before the start of Crankworx at the end of March.