Terms & Conditions

GENERAL 

These Terms and Conditions may be subject to change at any time and will become binding, with or without notification by Sonic Waves (SW). 

Terms and conditions for the purchase of tickets will be available at the time of purchase through the Ticket Fairy sales page. If in the event Ticket Fairy terms and conditions do not match the festival terms, or do not specify an answer, the festival terms will apply. 

GENERAL CONDITIONS OF ENTRY 

 Sonic Waves will follow, and require ticket holders to follow, any updated requirements without further notice to ticket holders. 

• By purchasing tickets for Sonic Waves, you are agreeing to abide by these terms and conditions. These terms and conditions apply in full to all areas of the festival including the stage areas, carpark areas, campgrounds, any immediately adjacent entry roads and bus stops.  

• Violating these conditions of entry may result in denial of entry, immediate ejection, or referral to New Zealand police if appropriate. If you are denied entry or ejected because you have not adhered to these Terms and Conditions, no refund will be provided.  

• Sonic Waves is a strictly R16, valid photo identification as listed below.  It is the ticket holder’s responsibility to ensure they have the correct ID.  Sonic Waves will refuse entry to those without acceptable ID and will not provide refunds should the ticket holder be refused entry. Acceptable forms of identification are limited to the following ONLY: 

• • Current HAINZ 18+ ID Card 

• • Current Kiwi Access Card  

• • Current New Zealand Drivers Licence 

• • Current Passport 
  • Current Student ID if under 18

• Intoxicated persons will not be granted entry to the festival.  

• All attendees on-site must comply with all official directives in the event of emergency evacuations or situations. 

• There is no camping in any vehicles on site.  

• Those believed to be attempting to go against official terms and conditions, or assisting others in breaking these conditions of entry (including admittance of those without valid tickets or wristbands) will be denied access to the site, and referred to the New Zealand Police if required. 

• All attendees on-site must have a valid form of admittance, which must constitute one of the following forms (but not limited to): 

•  Valid attendee wristband accreditation once on-site 

• Valid authorised NB accreditation 

• Wristbands and other forms of accreditation on-site are issued for the entire event (unless otherwise stated) and designed to be secure and non-removable (without destroying the wristband). Any attempts by attendees to manipulate or interfere with their wristbands will be construed as an attempt to contravene these conditions of entry, and may result in denial of entry, immediate ejection. 

• Any persons attempting to enter the festival without a valid event ticket or wristband, or without using the official entrances will be subject to a trespass order that will be in effect for 2 years. Those issued with a trespass notice may also be permanently banned for all future Sonic Waves events.  

• In cases where there is a valid reason (at the discretion of Sonic Waves) why the wristband has been damaged or removed, the right is reserved to charge for a replacement wristband. 

• All attendees must comply with the directives of Sonic Waves staff and contractors. Failure to do so may result in denial of entry, immediate ejection, or referral to New Zealand police if deemed appropriate. 

• Attempts to damage property of other attendees, or of Sonic Waves will result in denial of entry, immediate ejection, or referral to New Zealand police if deemed appropriate. Additionally, attempts will be made to recover costs if appropriate. 

• By attending these events you are providing permission to be filmed, photographed or used in any promotional material by Sonic Waves and/or festival partners.  This includes overhead drone footage. Sonic Waves has no obligation to notify you when using these images for any purpose at any time.  

• Sonic Waves take no responsibility for personal items mislaid, lost or stolen on-site. You must look after your own property with care. 

• Sonic Waves is an open-air event in rural and coastal area.  Be prepared for all weather conditions and ensure you bring some warm and wet weather clothing. Entry is at the attendee’s own risk and attendees assume that there may be risks inherent in admission to the venue. Sonic Waves will not be held responsible in the event of any injury, loss or damage sustained entering the venue, including damage to private vehicles brought on-site or adjacent car-parking facilities. 

• It is strictly forbidden to walk along designated bus and state highway areas between Sonic Waves and other areas. This practice is extremely dangerous for the individual, buses and other traffic, and may result in immediate removal of festival wristband or referral to the New Zealand police. 

• If at any point you feel that you or others’ health or safety is threatened, you should contact the nearest Sonic Waves staff member, security guard or Police Officer for assistance. Sexual harassment, bullying or any type of unwanted behaviour is not tolerated. 

• Any attempts to misrepresent oneself as a member of security, staff, or other personnel through the use of high-visibility clothing or making statements as such will be considered a serious offence and the party will be immediately ejected from the event, without refund. 

• No forms of sexual harassment be it verbal or physical, nor any discriminatory act including homophobia, racism, transphobia, sexism or other activity that harms another will be tolerated at the festival. 

• Sonic Waves will not permit the entry of attendees who break any conditions of entry and will eject those who break these rules at their discretion without warning, with no refunds provided. Items deemed to be in violation of these conditions of entry will be confiscated and not returned. 

• These conditions of entry are: 

• • No anti-social or threatening behaviour to other festival attendees or staff, or behaviour deemed to be in violation of the intent of these terms and conditions. 

• • No misrepresentation as a member of staff or security, or attempt to enter restricted areas. 

• • No construction or attempts to do so of any form of fire, bonfire or naked flame. 

• • No animals. 

• • No use of illicit drugs or illegal substances. 
• No attempt to bring into the venue any of the following prohibited items (but not limited to): 
  • Fireworks 
  • Alcohol  
  • Weapons 
  • Gang patches or gang affiliated clothing 
  • Lasers 
  • Any forms of glass, including glass containers and/or drinking vessels. A limited number of small personal toiletry bottles will be allowed.  
  • BBQs or other cooking equipments  
  • Material to construct fires or weapons 
  • Other dangerous items 
• Strictly no aerial drones will be allowed on the festival site. 
• For safety reasons, we do not permit any mallets or hammers on site. These will be provided to assist with camp site set up. 
• Any prohibited items that are confiscated will not be returned.  
• Attendees must allow authorised personnel to search their vehicles, clothes, bags, containers or other possessions for items in violation of these conditions of entry. Authorised personnel includes any member of NZ Police. 
• Participating in dangerous activities such as aggressive dancing, stage diving, crowd surfing or climbing may result in denial of entry, immediate ejection, or referral to New Zealand Police if deemed appropriate. 
• Intoxicated persons will not be granted entry to any Sonic Waves bus services. 
• No person without a valid Sonic Waves festival ticket or wristband will be granted entry to Sonic Waves bus services.  
• No prohibited items (including alcohol and glass) can be taken on to the Sonic Waves bus services.  
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TICKET REFUNDS, SALES AND EXCHANGE 

• Sonic Waves has a strict ‘No Refunds’ policy. 

• Sonic Waves is an all-weather event, and will not be cancelled in the event of adverse weather. Efforts will be made to adjust for adverse weather where possible. 

• In the event of full cancellation, ticket refunds will be made available by request from the point of purchase. If available, transfers to future events may also be offered.  Communication about the changes will be sent to ticket holders via Ticket Fairy (to the email the ticket was purchased under).  Tickets are subject to a cancellation fee. Tickets purchased privately or not from the official Sonic Waves ticketing platform are not eligible for refunds. 

• Tickets purchased for Sonic Waves are for the event, not for specific artists or acts. We reserve the right to withdraw, replace or substitute acts, and make changes to the program and /or timetabling where required. No refunds will be provided if an act is changed, cancelled or length or content of the performance changed or truncated. 

• Tickets may not be used as part of promotional giveaways, or contests, sweepstakes or in exchange for service unless with the express written consent of Sonic Waves. 

• Tickets can only be sold through Ticket Fairy at a time to be decided by Sonic Waves. All tickets will be named tickets, that must match the name of the ID of the person presenting the ticket at the festival entry. Any resale tickets must be sold via Ticket Fairy Resale. Tickets that have not been resold correctly through Ticket Fairy Resale will not be valid and the “purchaser” of the invalid ticket will not be entitled to entry to the festival or support in obtaining any refund. 

• Resale tickets are subject to a fee. 

• Sonic Waves is not obligated to resell your ticket, the resale system is the designated method to safely sell a valid ticket to the event, not a “buy back” scheme or guaranteed sale. 

• Tickets purchased, with a sale completed on any other platform (Viagogo, Tixel, Trade Me) are not valid. 

• If the amount paid for a ticket is incorrect regardless of whether it was an error in price or otherwise communicated, Sonic Waves reserves the right to cancel that ticket and refund the amount paid. This will apply regardless of whether it was a human error or system malfunction. 

• Tickets won as prizes, or gifted (comp tickets) cannot be transferred to any other person.  If the named holder cannot attend the event the ticket becomes void. 

• Any person seen to be selling, or attempting to sell, a ticket at more than face value will have all tickets under their name blocked from resale. The festival organiser reserves the right to then either cancel, refund or permanently block from resale any number of tickets under the offender’s name or email address. Any refund of the tickets is at the discretion of the festival organisers and will incur a cancellation and administration fee.  

• In the event of a refund of any sort, the service fee component or other administrative charges in purchasing / delivering the ticket will not be refunded. Refunds will be subject to a refund admin fee.  

• The bus service provided to Sonic Waves, with the service and frequency of said service is subject to the availability of buses, drivers and the application of all related transportation laws. All services are subject to delays impacted by the traffic and other delays caused by the public.  Sonic Waves takes no responsibility for attendees failing to make the events by missing buses, or being ejected from buses or denied their use due to damage, intoxication or other unruly behaviour. In this event Sonic Waves will not provide a refund and will refer the person to the appropriate authorities if required. 

• If you do not receive a confirmation email after submitting payment information, or if you experience an error message or service interruption after submitting payment information, it is your responsibility to confirm whether or not your order has been placed by contacting Ticket Fairy. Only you may be aware of any problems that may occur during the purchase process. Sonic Waves will not be responsible for losses if you assume that an order was not placed because you failed to receive confirmation. 

• Sonic Waves will not be held liable if customers purchase additional or unwanted tickets or add ons and it is the responsibility of customers to be sure they have selected the appropriate tickets and add ons.  

• By purchasing tickets for others through your ticket agent account, it is the responsibility of the account holder to ensure that the correct information is completed on all tickets. Sonic Waves will not be responsible for any costs incurred if customers do not enter the correct details during the process, for any reason. When allowing others to purchase a ticket for you, you acknowledge that ticket is the property of the account holder, regardless of any external financial arrangements between you.  

• By purchasing ticket/s you declare that they will not be passed onto any person/s under the age of 16 years. 

• Tickets purchased as part of a package can’t be sold separately. In the event of upgrading, downsizing tickets, the customer may be required to re-purchase their desired ticket and resell their old ticket. Fees apply. 

• Sonic Waves will not be held responsible for the actions of third party retailers, or provide refunds in the event of a dispute. 

OTHER RELEVANT TERMS  

• Pictures and content contained on our websites is also the property of Sonic Waves and may not be duplicated or used without our written and explicit consent. 

• When using the Sonic Waves  website (or any other websites associated with Sonic Waves including the ticketing agent website) and therefore agreeing to the sites terms and conditions, you are Sonic Waves  to collect the personal information provided in your ticket purchase. 

• By purchasing an event ticket, you agree that Sonic Waves may contact you in future for customer feedback, marketing and other events. You will be provided the option to unsubscribe from this service. 

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS AND ASSUMPTION OF RISK: 

You acknowledge and agree the following: 

1. You are voluntarily attending Sonic Waves with full knowledge of the risks of, and dangers associated with, your attendance at Sonic Waves, and you knowingly and freely assume and accept full responsibility for all such risks, even if arising from the negligence of Sonic Waves. 
2. Your attendance at Sonic Waves includes the risk (among other things) of possible exposure to, and the risk of possible illness and possible death arising from or in connection with, COVID-19. 
3. Sonic Waves, its related bodies corporate and the property or site owner associated with Sonic Waves (and their directors, officers, employees, contractors, staff, shareholders, volunteers, and agents, partners and sponsors (past, present and future)) (together the “Released Parties”), will not be responsible for any liability, costs, expenses, damages, claims or demands of whatever kind or nature, personal injury (including death), illness, loss or damage to property, economic loss, out-of-pocket expenses or other loss whatsoever which you, your successors and permitted assigns, next of kin and/or legally appointed or designated representatives, may have or which may accrue on your behalf, directly or indirectly arising in connection with or suffered as a result of your attendance at Sonic Waves, whether in law or in equity, (including in respect of any first aid, treatment, or service administered in connection with your attendance at Sonic Waves), regardless of whether any such injuries or losses are caused by the negligence of any of the Released Parties (together, “Liability”). 

RELEASE, WAIVER, DISCHARGE AND INDEMNITY: 

You unconditionally release, waive and discharge, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the Released Parties from any and all Liability and you unconditionally agree to indemnify (and hold harmless) the Released Parties in respect of all such Liability.