• Northern Bass, Mangawhai, December 29-31, featuring Shapeshifter, Andy C, Skeptical, Home Brew and Tiki Taane.
• Rhythm and Alps, Cardrona Valley, December 30-31, featuring Carl Cox, Shihad, Sticky Fingers and Katchafire.
Family Friendly
• Rotorua GLO Festival - a three-day event starting December 29. New Year's Eve features fireworks at 9.15pm and midnight. Free and alcohol-free.
• Queenstown New Year's Eve celebrations on the lakefront. Fireworks at midnight. Free and alcohol-free.
• New Year's Eve - Summer City at Frank Kitts Park, Wellington, with music, fireworks and a midnight countdown. Free and alcohol-free.
Fireworks
• Fireworks will be let off from the Sky Tower, Auckland, at midnight and will last for five and a half minutes.
This year, lasers fired from the tops of buildings on to the Sky Tower will complement the annual firework display. It will feature laser animations and different patterns for four hours leading up to the midnight countdown.
There are several prime spots to watch the fireworks from around the city, such as Mt Eden, the Domain, Devonport or around Wynyard Quarter and Silo Park.
• Otherwise, opt for inner-city destinations such as the roof of the Heritage CityLife Hotel. Its restaurant, Zest, is offering a set-menu dinner for $95 per person. Vue Restaurant in Customs St is offering a five-course degustation for those wanting to see in 2016 - and watch the fireworks - including champagne and canapes on arrival, for $220.
• SkyCity offers The Grand View at the Grand Hotel, including a seafood buffet, drinks and live entertainment and an exclusive view of the Sky Tower from the conservatory of the hotel. The $155 tickets include food and drinks.
• Several cruises are on offer for those wanting to watch the fireworks from the harbour. The New Year's Eve Bollywood cruise departs at 9pm and is $100 for entertainment and finger food. The Amada Cruises New Year's Sunset Groove Cruise is $300, goes from 8pm to 1am and includes a glass of bubbly on arrival and a late, light supper.
TV
• The Graham Norton Show New Year's Eve Special, 8.30pm, TV3
• The Big Wedding, 8.40pm, TV One, movie
• Yellowstone, 7.30pm, Prime, documentary series
• Gnomeo & Juliet, 7pm, TV2, movie
• The Last Days On Mars, 8.30pm, Four, movie
• Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1, 8.35pm, Prime, movie
• The Love Boat, 5.30pm, Jones
• Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo 2015, 8.30pm, UKTV
Tips for your own New Year's bash
From Yvette Stoupe, Party by Design
• Disposable partyware such as plates and glasses are a must-have.
• Choose a colour theme and base your food and decorations around it. Guests can also add to the atmosphere by wearing clothes in your selected party colour theme.
• Don't starve your guests. Why not create a dessert table for a popular visual and edible party feature?
• Design your own invitations using pictures cut from old comics, newspapers, magazines or junk mail.
• Capture the moments, set up a photo booth with costumes and props.
• Hold a regifting party - a great way to get rid of those ugly socks Aunty Daphne gave you for Christmas.
• Don't stress - if you don't have time to organise and plan the party, call in the professionals. That's what they are there for.
• Don't forget to have fun! Party hosts are often too busy making sure guests are enjoying themselves that they forget to stop and enjoy it too.
• Invite guests back for breakfast the next morning and rope them into cleaning up last night's mess.
What to wear
Tips from designer Andrea Moore
• Be bold without saying anything:
Think dramatic but understated, think bold but elegant, and think unique prints paired with simple tones. The Fortune Dress, a soft V-neck, elegantly, free-flowing silk dress is what comes to mind. The Fortune Dress is the ultimate statement dress this summer and is about showing off the ankle and the shoulder.
• Black and gold:
There is something about black paired with gold that just sets the scene. The black keeps it classic but the gold brings it to life. The Long Wanderer Dress is the epitome of mixing playfulness with an elegant shape, perfect for bringing in 2016!
• Let the silhouette do the work:
Find the dress that creates a shape, a waist and all you have to do is slip it on. It's a cheeky way of deceiving the eye and does wonders for women. The dress that comes to mind is the Swing Fantastic Dress. Pair it with a belt or a light-weight jacket to emphasise your waist further.
Resolutions to forget
• Join a gym.
You'll pay the exorbitant fee for several months' membership, go once or twice then forget about it. Go running instead and if you're still jogging in February, then join a gym.
• Stop smoking/drinking.
A great idea but a terrible time to do it. You probably failed this resolution last year ... and every other previous New Year.
• Get a new job.
This demands research, time and possible retraining. This isn't much fun at the beach on January 2.
Weather
The weather leading up to New Year's Eve will see a cold front heading north, WeatherWatch analyst Philip Duncan forecasts. "While there may be a few showers around on New Year's Eve day, particularly for areas in the east, the general data suggests conditions will dry out in the evening with a coolish southwest flow."
Royal treatment
If you fancy bling-ing in New Year in real style, The Langham Hotel in Auckland is the place to be.
Live like a king and queen for a few days with The Royal Treatment package, priced at $30,000 for two people.
For that you get two nights in the regal Royal Suite and a bottle of Louis Roederer Cristal Brut Champagne, chocolates, fresh flowers, and fruit and cheese on arrival. As well as a range of luxury spa treatments there is a romantic degustation dinner, champagne breakfasts, a return helicopter trip to Waiheke Island for a gourmet lunch and wine tasting, plus a sumptuous dinner at the hotel for you and up to six guests.
"There has been a lot of interest in the package since it launched and it is currently still available for New Year," a spokeswoman for The Langham said. "There has been an especially high level of inquiries from Houston, in particular, on the back of the new Air New Zealand flights introduced between Houston and Auckland."
- Russell Blackstock
