New Zealand school events Stage Challenge and J Rock have been cancelled after more than 25 years.
The Stage Challenge Foundation says more than 500,000 students have benefitted from the programmes since they were introduced in 1992, but the "current economic conditions" mean they can no longer continue.
Stage Challenge and J Rock being axed was first reported on by NZME.
Around 200 schools were involved annually, with approximately 16,000 participants entertaining an audience of 25,000.
Stage Challenge Foundation chairman Lester Taylor says the income from the planned 2018 events wouldn't be enough to cover costs.
"The Foundation relies each year on Government and corporate sponsorships, grants, participation fees and ticket sales to cover the cost of producing the events," he said in a letter.
"The current economic conditions are making it difficult for the corporate sector to sponsor charitable events while these same conditions impacted ticket sales in 2017."
The Ministry of Education encourages students to take part in the Smokefree Rockquest or Sheilah Winn Shakespeare Festival instead of the cancelled events.
Newshub.
