Frequently Asked Questions

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Entry to Harvest Festival for 2026 is $75 + booking fees. Shuttles or Harvest First-In tickets are additional.

Do you already have your tickets but didn’t purchase bus seats at the same time? Not to worry, you can still get a seat.

Add transport to your ticket by heading to our ticketing site and purchasing a shuttle. 

Shuttles are limited and will sell out. Book early to secure your seat.

No, unfortunately not anymore. All tickets now need to be booked online through our official ticketing link. This ensures you receive your digital ticket instantly and helps us manage event capacity accurately.

9:30am gates open for Harvest-First In ticket holders
10:30am gates open for Harvest Festival General Admission ticket holders
11am Harvest starts
5pm event closes

In the past, this event has been a cash only event, with people guessing how much cash to bring along and then using our cash out facilities on site to withdraw more as needed.
The introduction of a cashless payment system means you can top up in advance or onsite using cash or eftpos; and is also linked to our alcohol licence.

We are doing everything we can to make this as smooth a process as possible for everyone.

All vendors and our information tent team can let you know how much you have remaining on your wristband throughout the day.

Skip the queue to top-up your wristband before Harvest by visiting www.wayver.io
Select “Online Top Up”; Follow the prompts; Your money will be added to your wristband at the gates.

You can top up online or on your way to the event. Once you scan your ticket at the gate you will only be able to top up at the top-up station onsite.

The refund portal will be available for 4 weeks after Harvest Festival. This is how long you’ll have to request any balance left on your wristbands to be refunded. Once you apply, the funds will be in your account within a few days.

For refunds / terms and conditions visit www.wayver.io

This is given to you when your ticket is scanned upon entering the festival site.

Request a refund via the Wayver portal before Friday 14^th March ‘26.

Visit https://my.wayver.co.nz

1. Log in using the account you created if you topped up online pre event, or create an account
2. Type in your wristband number. This can be found on the inside of your wristband tag.
3. Enter your NZ bank account number in the correct format, and follow the prompts to complete your submission
4. All payments will be made weekly on Fridays into your nominated bank account

Online refunds are available for 3 weeks post event. Refunds close on Friday 14^th March ‘26.

All online refunds incur a $2 bank fee. For further Wayver terms and conditions, visit wayver.co.nz/terms

Expect to pay around $7 for tastings, $12 for full glasses of wine, and $5 for non-alcoholic drinks. Food will start from $5.

All regional shuttle passengers will be dropped directly at the event site.

If driving to the event you will be directed to car parking, then buses will be running on loops from 10.45am to take you from the car parking area to the event site – for health and safety reasons we cannot let people walk to or from the event site.

The Harvest Festival starts at 11am and finishes at 5pm.

Wayver wristbands will be replacing cash at wineries and foodies stalls from 2023. There will be top-up facilities available on the day. You can top-up your wristband pre-Event or on the day.

Things you may want to think about bringing to Harvest Festival:

• picnic blanket or small camping chair
• empty water bottle
• sun hat
• your fun festival attitude

We ask that you do not bring:

• pets/animals
• glass
• food or beverages
• umbrellas or furniture

We’re bringing an extra dose of glamour and creativity to Wairarapa Wines Harvest Festival with a Best Dressed Competition. Whether you’re attending solo, as a couple, or with a group, we invite you to showcase your best harvest-themed fashion and stand out for a chance to win fabulous prizes.

 Categories

• Best Dressed Individual
• Best Dressed Pair
• Best Dressed Group

 2026 Prizes

Couriered post-event

• Best dressed individual: 1 bottle of Wairarapa wine
• Best dressed pair: 1 bottle of Wairarapa wine
• Best dressed group: 2 bottles of Wairarapa wine

 Terms and Conditions

• Entry is free and automatic to all ticket holders.
• Winners will be selected from the crowd by a panel of judges.
  • Winners will be approached during the event by a member of the Wairarapa Wines Harvest Festival to collect details for prize distribution.
  • Winners will be invited to the info booth to have their photo taken.
• The winners will be announced by the MC at the event before our final band of the day.
• Prizes will be awarded to the winner of each category. Prizes are non-transferable and cannot be exchanged for cash.
• By entering the event site, attendees agree to have their photographs taken and shared on festival promotional channels, including social media.
• Outfits and costumes must be safe for both the wearer and others around them. No sharp or hazardous materials are permitted.
• Wairarapa Wines Harvest Festival reserves the right to modify or cancel the competition at any time.
• By entering, participants acknowledge that they take part in the competition at their own risk. The organisers, sponsors and associated entities will not be held liable for any injury, loss, or damage arising from participation in this competition.
• Judges decisions are final and no negotiation will be entered into.

We’ve got an awesome line up planned for you. Sit back and enjoy or get up on your feet and make the most of the party. Visit our website for details of the line-up.

As part of our efforts to look after our environment, we have decided not to print programmes this year. There will be a downloadable version of the pdf available on our website a week out from the event, we recommend you download this in advance. In addition, there will be signage to assist you in navigating the site on the day.
Download the 2025 programme.

Make the most of our beautiful sheltered riverside location and stay the weekend! There are various options available for sites adjacent to the Festival. Both riverside and sheltered paddock sites are available and will be allocated on a ‘first come first served’ basis.  All self-contained motorhomes are welcome however depending on the size of the vehicle owners may be directed to specific allocated sites.

We are asking people to register for sites so that we can monitor demand. To register please complete the form on the website.

• Entry will be by ticket only. Everyone 8yrs and over will require a valid event ticket. Children under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Wairarapa Wines Harvest Festival is a supervised event. A parent or guardian must accompany anyone under the age of 18.
• The Wairarapa Wines Harvest Festival is a supervised event. A parent or guardian must accompany anyone under the age of 18.
• Harvest Festival runs a no pass out policy. Once you have entered the festival you cannot leave and re-enter.
• Right of Admission Reserved – In order to facilitate the security, safety and comfort of all guests, the Organiser reserves the right to refuse admission and refund the ticket value.
• Admission is at Ticket Holders own risk. The Organiser will not be held liable for any loss, injuries or damages sustained at this event including damage, theft or losses to property and motor vehicles, if the cause is due to the negligence of the ticket holder or the unforeseeable actions of other patrons.
• Ticket holders consent to being filmed and/or photographed for possible use in promotional material.
• No glass bottles, cans, alcohol or food of any kind may be brought into this event. Empty water bottles may be brought in to fill with the free water available.
• Anyone who looks under 25 years of age will be required to provide proof of age when entering the site to receive a glass and be allowed to purchase alcohol. This must take the form of one of the following types of identification:
• HANZ 18+Card
• New Zealand Driver’s License,
• New Zealand or Foreign Passports
• In addition, each vendor will recheck the purchaser’s age if they feel unsure.
• Intoxicated persons will not be served alcohol and will be required to leave the event.
• The Ticket Holder will be required to leave the venue if he or she:
• Engages in conduct, which unreasonably interferes with the enjoyment of the event by the patrons
• Hampers or impedes the conduct of the event
• Breaches any by-laws or orders applicable to the venue.
• Security screening of everyone entering the venue and their bags to ensure no prohibited items are brought into the festival, including alcohol or other bottled liquids.

Harvest Festival will proceed in all weather provided it is safe to do so.

If the event needs to be cancelled or postponed for any reason, all ticketholders will be notified by email; and our website and social media channels will also be updated with relevant information.