August 9, 1999
For immediate release...
Representatives of the creative and technical producers and principal performers engaged by Year 2000 Festival Company Ltd and Year 2000 Festival Entertainment Company Ltd, respectively, are announcing the intention of all concerned to withdraw from further preparations for the Gisborne 2000 "First Light" Festival scheduled for New Year's Eve.
Management representing Split Enz and David Bowie, who are scheduled to appear with Dame Kiri Te Kanewa and the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra at the December 31 - January 1 concert, cite their conviction that the Promoters do not have the ability or financing to complete the necessary infrastructure, production and marketing arrangements required for a safe and successful Festival. It is a great disappointment to the Artists that Year 2000 Festival Entertainment Company Ltd. cannot meet its obligations. All concerned have postponed this decision to the last possible moment, in the hopes that the Promoters would be able to solve their internal problems. Unfortunately, they have not.
The Executive Producer, Project Director and management personnel who were hired by The Year 2000 Festival Company cited the Promoters' continuing failure to make necessary commitments to key production personnel, equipment providers, and creative and marketing specialists, as well as failure to make timely deposits on equipment and services previously ordered, despite repeated urgent requests to do so. This failure makes it impossible to complete the infrastructure and production arrangements necessary to mount the Festival.
Executive Producer Charles Gayton reiterated his own personal commitment to Mayor Clark and the City of Gisborne to support the effort to create a Millennium celebration.