The McLaren Valley Music and Arts Festival will no longer be taking place in the Bay of Plenty next year.

Announced today, the new music and arts festival that was set to take place at McLaren Falls Park next January will now be relocated to a central location somewhere in Auckland.

McLaren Valley Music and Arts Festival director Paxton Talbot. Photo: Tracy Hardy

The festival's relocation has come about after ongoing negotiations with residents in the area failed to resolve a number of outstanding concerns.

Festival director Paxton Talbot says he is incredibly disappointed to be unable to hold the festival at McLaren Falls Park, but adds the event will go ahead in Auckland on January 11-12.

'We have been working extremely hard for many months to go through the resource consent process,” Paxton explains. 'But ultimately we needed to make a decision to move the Festival.

'We did explore a range of other options in the Bay of Plenty and other areas, but Auckland is the best solution given the timeframe.”

Ticket purchasers will be offered full refunds or ticket holders can retain their tickets for transfer to the new event.

Paxton says he is working closely with all contracted artists on the change of location.

'We know so many people were excited about this Festival and we are sorry to disappoint our fans who have believed in the vision. We are working to create something special for the event in Auckland.”

Tauranga City Council communications manager Aimee Driscoll says they are disappointed the festival won't happen this summer in Tauranga.

The council worked in partnership with the festival organisers, Western Bay of Plenty District Council and other stakeholders towards 'a successful event at McLaren Falls Park”.

'We left no stone unturned to find an alternative location in Tauranga, but given the timeframe the organisers decided to move to Auckland,” says Aimee.

'We understand that ongoing negotiations between the festival organiser and residents failed to resolve a number of outstanding concerns.”

Aimee says as events play a key role in showcasing the city locally, nationally and internationally, council want to see more major events happing in Tauranga.

'We encourage event organisers to approach us as events celebrate Tauranga's arts, sports and cultural diversity, bring community pride and increase economic activity year-round.

'[Council] enjoyed working with the festival team and we look forward to working with them in the future. We wish them all the best for this event,” she adds.

Ticket purchasers will be offered full refunds or ticket holders can retain their tickets for transfer to the new event.

Details of the new event, including confirmation of the venue, ticketing transfer options and an announcement of more acts, will be released on Wednesday 28 October.