Auckland's Laneway Festival has apologised after its application to host 16 and 17-year-olds was rejected, meaning those aged under 18 will have their ticket refunded.
The festival released its 2025 dates and venues earlier this year, with the Auckland leg confirmed to return to Western Springs on February 6 headlined by British pop star Charli XCX.
In a post to Instagram today, Laneway shared the "unfortunate news" that tickets already purchased by under-18s would be refunded after the Auckland District Licensing Committee rejected its application for 16 and 17-year-olds to be able to attend.
"We worked closely with Police, Alcohol Licensing Inspectors, and the Medical Officer of Health, in good faith throughout the application process and did not anticipate this disappointing outcome.
Laneway said the decision came as a surprise following the "safe and successful inclusion of 16+ patrons at Laneway Festival 2024".
"We were looking forward to providing younger audiences with the opportunity to access great live music and are truly sorry this won’t be possible at the 2025 event.
Upset ticket-holders took to social media to share their frustrations over the change, with some commenting that they had already paid for flights and accommodation for the event.
"Thank you for ruining this for all of my friends and I," one person wrote.
Laneway stage in February, 2024. (Source: 1News)
Another said: "People have paid for flights, accommodation. This has been people’s birthdays and Christmas presents, and only releasing this news five days before Christmas!! So ridiculous!! How unfair."
The festival said refunds would be processed between January 6 and January 18, 2025 due to the holiday shutdown period.
"Please be patient with us while we work through this process with them."
1News has approached Laneway organisers for comment.
