Performers and contractors at a controversial Otago cannabis festival have been left high and dry as the event's organiser tries to pay off debt of $70,000.

But Harvest Festival founder Joe Nicolson claimed he was left picking up the pieces after his event manager made promises to performers without his knowledge and then disappeared when the festival was over.

The festival made headlines in April when it was forced to move from Woodside Glen to the outskirts of Gore, at the last minute.

The move was forced by the Dunedin City Council, which said it was not prepared to allow council-owned land to be used to host the event without a permit.

That left many attendees fuming over the change of plans.

Last week, Mr Nicolson, also known as Growseph Green, said he was left with $70,000 of debt following the event.

He still owed at least $25,000, he said.

"I'm not running away from any debt, I'm trying to pay it.

"This has ruined my parents' retirement. They've put a lot of trust in me that I've got a bright future in front of me, hopefully, and I can pay them back."

He said he was getting calls from people every day asking about payment.

"It's understandable these people wanting their money. It's just a daily thing I've got to deal with.

"It's been an extremely difficult time."

He claimed the manager of one band had threatened to send gang members to his house.

He had prioritised refunds for people unable to attend the festival due to the venue change, and had paid all of those, he said.

He claimed much of the debt was the responsibility of event manager Steve Akurangi.

"I was never privy to any musician's contracts, and as I found out they were promised so much that I was not aware of.

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"My events manager ... this is his debt, but in honour of those who showed and helped perform, and as the face who runs the whole thing, I am paying this debt, while he has run away from it all."

Mr Nicolson said he had been in contact with Mr Akurangi for three weeks after the festival, but had not heard from him since then.

A South Island contractor involved in the festival, who did not want to be named, said he was still owed $7500 plus GST.

He said he dealt only with Mr Akurangi, until the day before the festival "when we realised it all went pear-shaped".

"He always made himself sound as if he was running the show and funding it himself, so it all got a bit interesting when I asked for a deposit and that's when my dealings with Steve got very difficult."

Mr Akurangi would not respond to an email, and would only communicate by phone, the man said.

He was not hopeful of ever getting paid.

Three bands which performed at the festival also confirmed they had not been paid.

A member of one of those bands, who asked not to be named, said they were owed $5000 - $3000 for flights and a $2000 performance fee.

They had not been paid a cent, he said.

Repeated attempts to contact Mr Akurangi were unsuccessful.