One of the biggest drawcards for the Auckland Writers and Readers Festival won't be making the journey after a battle over an airfare.
Michael Hastings, the Rolling Stone journalist who wrote an expose about US General Stanley McChrystal, was due to appear at three events at the festival next week.
The organisers said he won't be appearing because of media commitments in the US.
However, Hastings tweeted that he would not be appearing at either Auckland or the Sydney Writers Festival, saying simply: "wanted to. Festivals declined to cover cost of airfare for me."
The Auckland festival artistic director, Anne O'Brien, said his initial airfare had already been paid in February.
However, there has been a debate over a $6000 cost of changing it, Ms O'Brien told Fairfax.
She said a television company asked Hastings to stay on, and his publisher asked if they could contribute towards the cost of changing the fares.
They heard nothing more until the news on Friday that Hastings would not be coming.
Ticketholders can exchange tickets or get a refund.
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