Food Festival Cancellation Refund Policy

A great summer plan should come with clear answers if the weather turns or an event cannot go ahead. This food festival cancellation refund policy explains what happens to entry passes and signature pie tokens when a festival day is cancelled, postponed or materially disrupted.

NZ Pie Fest is planned for 15 to 17 January 2027 at Frank Kitts Park in Wellington. Every ticket holder should be able to buy with confidence, then focus on the good bit: choosing pies from Wellington and beyond, enjoying the waterfront atmosphere and casting a vote for the People's Pie.

Food festival cancellation refund policy at a glance

If the festival is cancelled before it opens for the day, the entry pass for that cancelled day will be refunded in full to the original payment method, including the card service fee, and you do not need to ask for it. If you have purchased signature pie tokens through the official checkout and cannot use them because the relevant festival day has been cancelled, any unused tokens will also be refunded.

If the entire festival is cancelled before it begins, entry passes and unused signature pie tokens bought directly through the official checkout will be refunded. You will not need to chase a vague answer or wonder where your money has gone. Ticket holders will receive direct communication using the contact details attached to their order.

A three day pass is built for a full weekend of pie hunting. If one or more festival days are cancelled, the refund for the affected day or days will be calculated from the price paid for the pass. If all three days are cancelled, the full pass price will be refunded.

Refunds are returned to the original payment method where possible. Keep your order confirmation and make sure the email address used at checkout remains accessible, as this is where cancellation updates and refund information will be sent.

If the festival is postponed

Sometimes the safest and fairest option is to move an event rather than cancel it. If NZ Pie Fest is postponed, your entry pass will remain valid for the new date. This gives you a straightforward choice: keep your place for the rescheduled festival or request a refund if the new date no longer works for you.

The refund request process, including the timeframe for making a choice, will be shared directly with ticket holders at the time of postponement. Signature pie tokens purchased through the official system will remain valid for the rescheduled event.

A postponement notice will clearly state the new date, how tickets and tokens are being handled, and what action you need to take. No one should have to decode fine print while trying to rearrange a summer weekend.

Rain, wind and Wellington weather

A spot of rain does not automatically mean cancellation. Wellington weather can change quickly, and the festival may continue when conditions allow it to operate safely and enjoyably. Bring a jacket, check event updates before leaving home and be ready for a waterfront day that looks a little different from the forecast you saw at breakfast.

There is no refund simply because it rains, the temperature changes or your plans change while the festival is operating as advertised. The decision to pause, alter or cancel programming rests with organisers and will always put public safety first.

If severe weather or another unexpected issue makes it unsafe to open, or means a festival day must be cancelled after a significant disruption, ticket holders will receive an update explaining the next step. If a day is cancelled for safety, the cancellation refund applies to that day.

What happens to signature pie tokens

A signature pie token is separate from entry and can be redeemed for one bakery's signature pie. That distinction matters when a cancellation affects your plans.

If a day is cancelled before you can attend, unused tokens purchased through the official checkout are eligible for a refund. If the festival remains open and you have already redeemed some tokens, only the unused tokens are considered for any relevant refund. Redeemed tokens cannot be refunded because the pie has already been served.

Where another festival day remains available, you may be able to use unused tokens on that remaining day, provided the festival communicates that they are valid and your ticket gives you entry. This can be the simplest outcome for anyone who still wants to taste their way around and help decide the People's Pie. If you cannot attend a remaining day, the cancellation message will explain the available options.

Tokens should be managed through the QR based ticket system. Have your mobile charged before arrival and keep your ticket confirmation handy. If you have a technical issue with a token, speak with the event team during the festival where possible so it can be checked while the day is still running.

What is not covered by a cancellation refund

A cancellation refund applies to eligible entry passes and unused signature pie tokens bought directly through the official checkout. It does not automatically cover personal travel, accommodation, parking, childcare or other costs arranged independently.

It also does not apply when you decide not to attend a festival that is proceeding as planned. We know life changes quickly, especially in summer, but a personal change of mind is different from an organiser cancellation. The same applies if you arrive late, leave early or choose not to use all of your tokens while the festival is open. If you cannot make it, you may transfer your ticket to someone else at no charge.

On site purchases that have already been supplied, including food, drinks or other items, are not refundable just because a later part of the day changes. If an item has not been supplied because the event has been cancelled, the event team will provide clear instructions for the relevant purchase.

How cancellation updates will be shared

If a cancellation, postponement or major disruption is necessary, the priority is getting useful information to ticket holders quickly. Updates will be sent to the email address connected to your purchase and shared through official festival channels. The notice will explain whether the festival is cancelled, delayed, paused or rescheduled, because those situations can have different outcomes.

Before travelling to Frank Kitts Park, check the latest official event information, particularly if the weather is severe. Avoid relying on rumours, screenshots without context or messages from unofficial accounts. A clear official update is the best source for gate times, access information and refund instructions.

A fair policy for a first edition festival

The point of a refund policy is not to make an exciting weekend feel complicated. It is there so you know where you stand before you buy. Entry gets you into the festival, a courtesy drink and the right to vote. Signature pie tokens let you choose the pies you want to try. If organisers cancel, the policy protects the part of the experience you did not receive.

Save your confirmation email, check event updates before you head to the waterfront and bring your appetite. If plans change, you will have a clear path forward. If they do not, you have three summer days to find the pie worthy of your vote.