Dear paddlers
Best wishes to everyone for 2021 and the Chinese New Year. We do hope that 2021 heralds a much brighter year for all of us.
Firstly, we want to say a huge thank you to everyone for your enthusiasm and the feedback you have been sending us. We understand that, globally, it is very difficult at the moment in terms of the situation with Covid-19, the rollout of the vaccines, the severity of some of the winter months in the northern hemisphere and the financial uncertainties after some severe lockdowns.
We have thought long and hard, sought counsel from our legal and financial advisors and have spoken with members of our paddling community about whether to postpone the 2022 festival or not. We have taken many factors into account, the least not being the availability and the cost of air travel to New Zealand. Our local carrier, Air New Zealand, is working towards a travel bubble with Australia which we hope will see no quarantine either in New Zealand or Australia. It is hoped that this will be open in April 2021. However, it is unlikely that international travel with the USA, Asia and Europe will take place before the end of 2021. We have been very fortunate that New Zealand has managed the virus well and that the vaccination process has now commenced. We know that this is not the case internationally and that many of our paddlers will not have been on the water for up to two years by the time 2022 arrives.
Having taken everything into account we have made the decision to POSTPONE the festival
until 2023. We have also changed the dates to ensure that we are able to engage the services of all of the accommodation providers and the various venues that we are using.
The new dates are now:
Monday 10 April 2023 - Sunday 16 April 2023
We appreciate that Easter falls on Monday 10th April, however we know that all of the providers can work with us across that Easter period. It also gives some of you a few extra days annual leave to add to your travel plans.
Important information
Registration deadlines
The date for close of registrations will also move.
The new close of registration date is: 31 October 2021
The final date for payment of registration fees will be: 31 March 2022.
All names must be filled in the Individual Participant form by 30th September 2022.
All registration and accommodation deposits paid are securely held in trust.
Accommodation
Orbit Groups & Events Auckland are working with the accommodation providers to transfer
bookings that have been made. All deposits that have been paid will be automatically transferred to the new dates.
Please contact the team at Orbit to reconfirm your accommodation for the new festival dates.
Should you have any queries please do not hesitate to contact us.
Thank you very much for your patience and understanding.
Ngā mihi nui,
IBCPC Steering Committee
2023 Festival Organising Committee
Orbit Groups & Travel Auckland
