A couple of you have asked about ticket pricing and categories, and it’s made me realise that our ticket structure might seem a little odd compared to other events you’ll be familiar with. Because, at The Muster, you’ll get exactly the same things on the weekend, no matter what kind of ticket you purchase. It’s not a misinterpretation of messy scribble on the back of an envelope, it’s had quite a bit of thought, so I thought I’d better explain. 

The reason we have three ticket categories is because of our values. The Muster is about community, about connection, and about welcoming women from all walks of life. The Muster is a not-for-profit event, happening because of much love poured into it from many folks. We’re not wanting to make money from it, just cover the costs so that The Muster can continue long into the future and impact the lives of many women in its time.

Setting up camp – or a three-day event, in this case – in a remote part of the country isn’t cheap. We’re bringing in marquees, toilets, showers, makeshift kitchens, and a wonderful collection of speakers and workshops. It’s the quality you’d get in the city – but in this case, in the small village of Motu. It’d be far cheaper – and much less sweat, blood and tears - to throw the event in a large regional city… and it’s been suggested to us many times before! But having The Muster in a remote place like Motu is what will make it special, and we’re not one to budge from our vision. Come along in February and you’ll see what we mean about being special.

No matter what type of ticket you purchase (or where in the country you live or who is paying for your ticket) your ticket includes meals for the entire three days from nibbles on arrival on Friday late afternoon, to canapés, noodle boxes and supper for those still on the dance floor late Friday night, through to breakfast, morning smoko, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner on Saturday, and breakfast and lunch on Sunday. (You can check out the menu we had planned for February here.) Tickets include all guest speakers, workshops, the Artsbreak Area, and some health appointments. If you want to bring your own camping gear, horse float, swag, caravan, camper – once you’ve got your ticket you can camp in the campground and access the toilets and showers at no cost. (If you’d like to have your tent set up for you, you can choose to book one of our pre-set up tents for an extra cost per person.) And then there’s all the optionals that you can purchase on the weekend – that you can choose to join in, or not – think shopping at the market stalls, beauty appointments, some health consultations, coffee from the coffee cart, and drinks from the bar. 

The three ticket categories are priced differently based on where you live and who is paying for your ticket. We want to make sure that the event is accessible for those of you who live locally and are purchasing your ticket out of your own pocket – cue the Locals Ticket, if you live in the Gisborne, Ōpotiki and Wairoa Districts. The last thing we wanted to do was hold an event in a small village or up a rural road, for the mum up the road who is at home raising four kids to feel like you can’t come because it’s too expensive. The Local Ticket price doesn’t even cover the cost of the food per head (let alone all of the other activities on offer), but we want to make sure the event is as accessible as possible, and want you, as locals, to be able to join in the fun. Local Tickets are $349 per person and are possible thanks to the financial support we’ve received from generous local organisations like Trust Tairāwhiti and Lottery Community Funding. 

Our General Attendee Ticket is for you if you are anywhere else in Aotearoa (live outside of the Local Ticket area) and you are paying for your ticket from your own pocket. It’s $449 per person.

And finally, our Business Ticket is for if you live anywhere in the country and your work or business is paying for your ticket. That’s not because we think businesses are super rich – we know it’s tough out there at the moment, especially for small businesses – but because the event simply wouldn’t be sustainable if all tickets were just $349 a head. And we felt it was okay to ask a bit more from businesses, to enable local women who really need it to be able to come.

Kristy, Founder & Festival Director