Festival Whānau Terms and Conditions
Mā te huruhuru, ka rere te manu.
(Adorn the bird with feathers so it may fly).
These terms apply to all Festival membership levels offered by Nelson Festivals Trust, trading as Nelson Arts Festival (“we”, “us” or “the Festival”).
By purchasing or accepting a membership, you agree to these terms and any additional information provided for your selected membership level.
- Membership period
Membership is valid for 12 months from the date it is confirmed, unless another start or end date is stated when you join.
Membership does not renew automatically unless you expressly choose an automatic renewal option. We may contact you before your membership expires and invite you to renew.
- Membership payments
Membership fees are stated in New Zealand dollars and include GST where applicable.
You may pay your membership fee in full or through an approved instalment plan where this option is available.
If you select an instalment plan, you are committing to the full annual membership fee. Instalments will be charged using your selected payment method on the agreed dates. Please contact us promptly if a payment fails or your payment details change.
- Membership benefits
The benefits attached to each membership level are those described on the Nelson Arts Festival website or confirmed to you when you join.
Benefits:
- apply only during your current membership period
- are subject to availability, capacity and the requirements of individual artists, venues, events and partners
- may require advance booking or confirmation by a stated deadline
- have no cash value and cannot be exchanged for cash
- cannot be resold or used for commercial promotion
- may be changed or replaced with a reasonably comparable benefits where circumstances outside our control make the original benefit unavailable.
Some benefits may be available only during the annual Festival period.
- Priority booking
Where priority booking is included in your membership level, it provides access to the booking system (or other portal) before tickets go on sale to the general public.
Priority booking does not guarantee tickets or particular seats. All tickets remain subject to availability, event capacity, ticket limits and the Festival’s standard ticketing terms and conditions.
Members must follow the booking instructions and deadlines provided. Unclaimed tickets or seats may be released for general sale once the applicable priority period has ended.
- Complementary tickets
Where complementary tickets are included in your membership level:
- the number of complementary tickets will be confirmed as part of your membership benefits
- complementary tickets must be requested within the timeframe communicated by the Festival
- complementary tickets are subject to availability and are not reserved automatically
- some events, performances, seating areas or ticket types may be excluded
- complementary tickets may be used by the member and their guests but must not be resold
- unused complementary tickets cannot be carried forward, exchanged for cash or credited against a future membership.
Standard ticketing and event-entry conditions continue to apply.
- Reserved seating
Where reserved seating assistance is included, we will make reasonable efforts to secure appropriate seats within the member allocation.
Reserved seating remains subject to availability and any booking deadline communicated by the Festival. We cannot guarantee a particular row, seat or location.
Seats that have not been confirmed by the stated deadline may be released for sale.
- Invitations and supporter events
Invitations to Festival launches, artist talks, receptions, rehearsals, briefings, meet-and-greets and other supporter events are subject to capacity, scheduling and artist availability.
Unless otherwise stated, an invitation is for the member and the number of guests specified in the invitation. Invitations cannot be transferred or resold without our prior approval.
An event may be changed, postponed or cancelled. Where possible, we will provide reasonable notice or offer an alternative opportunity, but no cash refund or credit is attached to a complementary supporter event.
- Recognition
Where public recognition is included, we will ask for your approval before publishing your name.
You may choose to:
- be recognised by name
- use an agreed household, family or business name
- remain anonymous.
You are responsible for providing the correct wording and advising us of any changes before relevant publication deadlines. Recognition submitted after a deadline may not appear until the next available website, programme or collateral update.
- Communications and privacy
We will collect and use your personal information to administer your membership, process payments, provide benefits, manage bookings and invitations, and communicate with you about the Festival and the impact of your support.
We will handle personal information in accordance with the Privacy Act 2020 and our privacy policy. You may update your details or communication preferences at any time.
You can unsubscribe from promotional emails, although we may still contact you with essential information about your membership, payments, tickets or booked events.
- Directed support
Where your membership includes an opportunity to express a preference for supporting a particular show, artist, access initiative or area of Festival activity, we will make reasonable efforts to apply your support accordingly.
Unless a separate written funding agreement is entered into, this preference does not give the member ownership of, or decision-making authority over, the supported activity.
If the nominated activity cannot proceed or receives more support than required, we may apply the funds to a related Festival purpose or another area of greatest need. We will consult the member where reasonably practical.
- Tax receipts
Membership payments may provide the member with benefits and therefore may not qualify, in full or in part, as charitable donations for New Zealand donation tax-credit purposes.
If any portion of a payment qualifies as an eligible donation, we will identify that amount and issue an appropriate receipt. Members should seek independent tax advice about their individual circumstances.
This is important because Inland Revenue defines a qualifying donation as a voluntary monetary gift providing no direct benefit to the giver. Inland Revenue guidance
- Cancellations and refunds
You may ask to cancel your membership by contacting us in writing.
Unless required by law or otherwise agreed by us:
- payments already made are non-refundable
- cancelling your membership ends access to any unused benefits
- outstanding instalments for an annual membership remain payable
If we cancel the membership programme or are unable to provide a substantial portion of the membership benefits, we will contact affected members and offer an appropriate remedy, which may include replacement benefits, a credit or a partial refund.
Nothing in these terms limits any rights you may have under New Zealand consumer law.
- Changing membership level
Requests to change membership level will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
If you upgrade during your membership period, we may credit payments already made toward the higher membership level. Benefits already used may be taken into account when calculating any additional amount payable.
Memberships cannot ordinarily be downgraded during a current 12-month period.
- Member conduct
We may suspend or cancel a membership if a member:
- misuses, transfers or resells membership benefits
- behaves unlawfully, abusively or in a way that creates a safety risk
- seriously breaches these terms
- acts in a way likely to cause material harm to the Festival, its artists, staff, volunteers, audiences or reputation.
Where appropriate, we will contact the member and provide an opportunity to address the issue before cancelling their membership.
- Changes to the programme
The Festival programme, participating artists, venues, performance times and supporter opportunities may change.
We may also update these membership terms or the benefits offered in future membership periods. Material changes affecting a current membership will be communicated directly to the member.
- Contact
Questions about membership, benefits, payments or these terms can be directed to:
Nelson Festivals Trust / Nelson Arts Festival
Email: info@nelsonartsfestival.nz
Postal address: PO Box 597, Nelson 7040, New Zealand
These terms were last updated: July 2027