Low ticket sales may have played a part in the postponement of this year's Military Tattoo, despite Palmerston North Council saying it was delayed after the mosque attacks.
The council announced its decision on March the 20 - five days after the shootings - saying it was inappropriate to go ahead with displays of firearms and explosives.
But documents obtained by RNZ show the event had only attracted a fraction of the people needed to fill the arena.
RNZ's Charlotte Cook reports.