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GENERAL FAQ's
GENERAL
TICKETING
YOUTH
CHILDREN
These must be accepted to purchase tickets. All tickets are non-refundable. We will not be offering a refund NO EXCEPTIONS. If the festival is unable to take place on 14-16 March 2025 ticket holders will be refunded their face value tickets. Ticket holders’ consent to being filmed, photographed, and recorded. These recordings will be used to promote WOMAD Aotearoa. Ticket holders agree to the WOMAD Aotearoa T&C’s and our code of conduct – keep reading for our Code of Conduct.
WOMAD Aotearoa is committed to creating a safe, comfortable, fun experience for everyone. For your safety and that of your fellow WOMADers, you may be searched either on entry to the festival or within the festival site.When you buy your ticket you are agreeing that you won’t: Irresponsibly or unsafely use alcohol.Access restricted areas without the proper passes.Use offensive language or act abusively.Use obscene or offensive gestures, including the use of obscene or offensive gestures through imagery or symbolism including bringing banners, – signs and other means of visual propaganda into the festival.Possess/use/sell illegal drugs.Publicly urinate or defecate (outside of a proper and/or public restroom).Fight or engage in any action that may harm, endanger, threaten or bring discomfort to anyone.Damage, destruct, vandalise or steal any property.Refuse or resist a search.This forms our WOMAD Code of Conduct for guests. If you violate this code of conduct, you risk being removed from the festival, forfeiting your right to re-enter as your wristband will be taken and no refund given.We have festival security on-site at all times to help look after everyone. Should you require assistance or have any enquiries, please talk to our wonderful staff at the information centre, located at the top of the Bowl hill!
As well as a good attitude and dancing shoes, there is a range of helpful items you can bring with you into the venue to make your festival experience an organised and comfortable one!What I CAN bring to WOMAD:Baby strollersBackpacks, purses, handbags, totes and fanny packs (no hydration packs allowed)BinocularsBlankets (small) and beach towelsCameras (just not professional cameras unless you are accredited media)Children (make sure they are with an adult ticket holder on arrival and upon leaving)Food (homemade picnic food is allowed) commercially bought food is prohibitedLaptop computers and tabletsPersonal items (such as sunglasses, make-up, lip balm, hand sanitiser and baby wipes are allowed and non-aerosols such as pump or squeeze sunscreen, roll-on deodorant, spray perfume and spray insect repellent)Phones and chargers (we have power banks for purchase if you get low)Sand/festival chairs (chairs higher than 10cm off the ground are to be placed to the sides and behind patrons, so as not to block the viewing of others).Service animals only (no pets)Umbrellas (handheld) and parasols (beach umbrellas are not allowed as they obstruct other festivalgoers viewing)Re-usable water bottles (you can refill your water for FREE at the TSB WAI Water Refill stations! Pack your non-glass, empty water bottle, or if you forget, visit the TSB WAI WATER stall, and grab yourself a new reusable bottle that comes filled with chilled still or sparkling water)As part of our efforts to keep everyone safe and to protect our beautiful environment, there are a number of things we ask you to leave at home. If you are found with any of these items, you risk having them confiscated or you may be escorted from site by security or police. What I CANNOT bring to WOMAD:Aerosol products (includes aerosol sunscreen, insect repellent, deodorant and hair products)Air hornsBeach UmbrellasBYO Alcohol (strictly forbidden from site and will be confiscated if found)Commercial Food and Drink (no pre-packaged food or drinks allowed – we have our amazing Global Village with a huge variety of tasty food and beverages to purchase – plus our many TSB Wai Water stalls for re-filling your drink bottles)Drones or remote-control toysDrugs or drug paraphernalia (including cannabis, synthetic cannabis or cannabis products)Flammables (including fireworks, explosives, road flares, naked flames or candles)Flags or totemsFlashlightsFlyers, samples, giveaways, promotional itemsGang regaliaGlass bottles or containersHydration PacksKites or sky lanternsLaser pointersMusical instruments (unless you are one of our incredible artists!)Professional cameras unless you are accredited mediaSelfie sticks or tripodsSleeping bagsSunshades or pop-up beach shelters (handheld umbrellas are allowed and parasols are available to purchase from our Wo-Store)Tents Toy guns, water guns or slingshotsVehicles (including but not limited to bicycles, skates, scooters, skateboards, hoverboards, segways, e-scooters etc. These personal vehicles cannot be used within the venue but you can lock them up outside the entry gates (at your own risk). Personal mobility devices for ADA guests are allowed).Weapons of any kind (this ban includes but is not limited to guns, ammo, pocket knives, tasers, pepper spray/mace etc. Off-duty law enforcement or concealed carry permits are also not allowed to bring weapons – just bring love!
Every guest coming onto the WOMAD festival site needs to present their ticket.This includes:Adults (18yrs+)Youth (13 – 17yrs, will be required to present a valid form of ID as well)Note that each adult ticket holder is entitled to one free child ticket (12 yrs and under) and both the child and adult must be wrist-banded at the same time. Additional children (12 yrs and under) with a ticket of their own.You can either print out your ticket and have it scanned, or show your ticket on your phone to be scanned.Once your ticket is accepted our friendly gate staff will give you your wristband. Don’t take your wristband off as it is how you get back into the festival.You can leave the festival site at any time, but you must show your wristband each time you come back. Youth ticket holders may leave the venue but will not be allowed on to the festival site after 7pm unless accompanied by a parent or caregiver who is 18 years or older.Our gate staff are trained to check all people entering the site for contraband items (see the list above), so expect to open your bag at the entry lanes.If you prefer, you can choose to be wrist-banded at one of our pre-wristbanding sites.
No swimming in the lake, it’s gross, it’s yucky and you run the risk of getting sick if you enter the water. If you enter the lake your wristband will be cut off and you will be evicted from the site, forfeited the right to come back in to the festival.
WOMAD Aotearoa is held in the beautiful Bowl of Brooklands and Brooklands Park, in New Plymouth, Taranaki. The park is home to a stunning array of trees and gardens and we want to keep it that way. Please keep off the gardens and especially don’t climb the trees.
WOMAD adheres to the New Plymouth District Council’s Smokefree Parks and Outdoor Areas Policy and encourage all WOMAD punters to respect this by not smoking within the venue including cigarettes, e-cigarettes and vape pens.
Power Banks will be available to purchase on-site!
The four entrances to the festival are: GATE C – Kaimata St GATE D – Brooklands Drive GATE E – Dell Lake GATE F – Racecourse
Fri, 4.30pm – 11.30pm Sat, 11am – 11.30pm Sun, 11am – 10pm (performance start times to follow in October with our main artist announcement)
During the festival, lost property can be collected from the Information Centre. After the festival, any unclaimed items will be available for collection from the TAFT office at 50 Brougham St, New Plymouth, for one week. After this period, remaining items will be handed over to the New Plymouth Police Station.
CAMPING FAQ's
CAMP RULES
GENERAL FAMILY AND ACCESSIBILITY CAMP
MOTORHOME CAMP
To make your festival camping experience a great one, and to keep everyone safe, we have a set of camping rules that all campers must abide by.
You must purchase a 3 Day Festival + Camping ticket in order to camp.Campers must be 18+ years OR with a parent/caregiver in order to camp.Campsite is open from 9am Friday to 10am Monday.Sites are assigned in order of arrival. There is NO SAVING SPOTS.Groups wishing to camp next to each other must arrive at the same time. You should plan on meeting up prior to driving into the camp entrance. Arrive together to camp together.In order to accommodate all campers, you must camp where assigned. Don’t be a pain! Attempting to camp anywhere else creates a bad buzz for us and you.Noise curfew starts at 1.00 am.No vehicles may exit once they are inside the campsite.All campers are expected to behave in a courteous manner to other campers.
The WOMAD camp is a friendly place with a great atmosphere. We want to ensure our guests are as safe and comfortable as possible. When you buy your Festival + Camping Combo tickets you are agreeing to abide by our camping code of conduct. In the event of anti-social, unruly, unsafe or illegal behaviour you won’t be admitted to the campsite and/or you will be evicted from the campsite. You will not qualify for a refund. Don’t spoil the vibe for others. We have on-site security present to help protect you when you’re in the festival and the campsite. To get into the campsite you must present your camping wristband to the staff at the camp entrance.
As part of our effort to keep everyone safe, and to protect our beautiful environment, we ask that you do not bring any of the following items onto the festival campsite. If you are found with any of these items you will not be allowed to enter the camp site. The item may be confiscated, you may be escorted from site, and/or our security / the police may be informed.Amplified sound – in other words large speakers, sound systemsAnimals – service animals are allowedCompressed gas tanks – helium, nitrous etcDrones or remote control vehicles or toysDrugs or drug paraphernalia Extra car batteriesFlammables – including fireworksFurniture – sofas, couches, recliners, lazy boy chairs etcGeneratorsHeating appliancesKegsOpen flames – candles, campfires, bamboo torches etcBalloonsSegwaysSlip n slidesWeapons of any kind (including toy ones)Cooking inside of tentsExcessive gas bottles
If you are unclear about an answer, assume the answer is NO and leave it behind.
You may bring food and non-alcoholic drinks into the campsite.
ACCESSIBILITY AT WOMAD
ENTRY AND PARKING
AT THE FESTIVAL
WOMAD is a festival for everybody! We offer a range of accessible features to ensure as many people as possible are able to enjoy the event. Check through this page to see what is available. If you require help while at WOMAD, you can call or stop by our WOMAD Information Centre.
We have a pickup and drop off service using golf carts for those with mobility issues. These are scheduled and will run on the hour and half hour only. This is not an on-demand system so please be patient and courteous.To get into the festival:The golf cart will pick you up from either the Kaimata St pickup point, or the Racecourse pickup point (located top of the walking track). There is a waiting area at each pickup point next to the accessible carpark. The golf cart will come and take you to the Information Centre (inside the festival).To get out of the festival:The pickup point inside the festival is the Information Centre, where you will be taken back to either the Kaimata St or Racecourse waiting areas.
Please submit an application request to receive an accessible parking pass. You will need to provide proof that you will have a valid Mobility Parking Pass that covers March 2025. Approved applications for parking passes will need to be collected from the WOMAD Desk at the Plymouth Hotel, Courtney Street, New Plymouth from Wednesday 12th March.
To enter the festival, you will need to be wearing your WOMAD 2025 wristband. Access is via: Kaimata St (Gate C) (level access, gravel pathway) Racecourse (via Gate B) Coronation Ave. If you require flat access to the site, suitable for wheelchairs, mobility scooters or similar, then please choose the Kaimata St entrance (Gate C). Note the path is gravel.
There are two designated accessible parking areas:Kaimata St (Gate C)Racecourse (via Gate B) Coronation Ave.
Note a WOMAD Accessible Parking Pass is required to park in these carparks.Kaimata St Parking (Gate C)This is the only level access to the festival site with LIMITED SPACES AVAILABLE.There is a road closure in place and traffic is one-way access only from Brooklands Road.The Parking Crew will assist you in parking and there is a gazebo with seating.A golf cart will operate from Gate C: Kaimata St – to -WOMAD Information Centre.Racecourse Parking (via Gate B)LIMITED SPACES AVAILABLE. The Racecourse accessible parking area is accessed through Gate B: via Coronation Avenue. Follow the signs and there is a pick up and drop off area at the top of the Racecourse track area by the VIP car park. A golf cart will operate from the Racecourse to – WOMAD Information Centre.
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