Vineyard foots bill for B-52s blowout

Martinborough's Alana Estate has suffered a financial blow from the collapse of the highly promoted B-52s and Proclaimers gig.

Late yesterday afternoon, the vineyard's board was holding an emergency meeting to discuss the financial impact of the cancellation because of high winds of the A Day on the Green concert.

The concert was canned on Saturday afternoon as 5000 concertgoers waited at the gates.

Safety fears were behind the decision as winds of more than 100kmh pummeled the region.

Winery spokeswoman Alana Smart said that, although the concert promoter – Roadhouse Entertainment – was insured for cancelled concerts, the vineyard had its own losses to carry.

She could not say how much the vineyard had lost through food catering for more than 5000 people and the hire of marquees and other equipment. It had anticipated making a $200,000 profit that day.

"It is not as though this is going to ruin us and we will get through it, but it is disappointing for us, the promoters and more importantly the concertgoers," Mrs Smart said.

Most of the pre-prepared food was taken to Wellington on Sunday and given to the City Mission, while ice-creams and other items that could be saved would be given to children's organisations.

Despite the 11th-hour cancellation, the party atmosphere was charged throughout Wairarapa.

Wellington IT consultant Chris Jones, 40, who had prepaid for accommodation in Martinborough, said everyone remained in good spirits. "You can't control the weather and so you adapt. Hey, we partied and we all had fun anyway."

In Martinborough, where accommodation had been booked out months in advance, hundreds flocked to hotels and bars in the town square, dancing the night away and feasting from picnic hampers.

All ticket holders will get a full refund.

- © Fairfax NZ News