Where to party! party! party!

By PHOEBE FALCONER

If you want to party in the New Year, the Herald has the pick of the hot spots.

* In Auckland, First Night at The Edge promises traditional and contemporary performances and food and craft stalls and, best of all, it is drug, alcohol and admission-free.

The gates open at 5.15pm, and the main stage in Aotea Square comes alive at 6.15 with MC Jan Maree and all-girl group Brown Suka, followed by the Brunettes.

New bands take the stage every half hour and include the Burundian Drummers and Vivid. Ska band the Managers and Pacific rock reggae band the Black Seeds hit the stage later in the night.

Albert's Stage on level three of the Aotea Centre features singer/songwriters such as Ramon, Crystal and Mahara Tocker, and the Owens Stage on level two hosts the sights and sounds of Pacific Island community groups.

Asian groups will be on the Air New Zealand Stage on level five.

Nightrider buses run until 3am tomorrow, and parking is easy at the Civic and Greys Ave carparks.

* Sky City celebrates New Year in Hollywood style, with red carpets, stars of stage and screen, entertainers such as Frankie Stevens and Kim Hart, 13 bars and restaurants and much more. Fireworks go off from the top of the Sky Tower at midnight.

* Slinky Planet is the R18 NYE dance party at the Auckland Town Hall from 9pm. Tickets are $65 from Ticketek.

* Velvet NYE 03 is the last Velvet and aims to be the best. It's R22, kicks off at 10pm and has a lineup of four international and 15 local DJs, including Nicky Holloway, DJ Booth and Hardy Shrub from Britain, Austin Leeds from the United States, and our own House of Downtown. There are six rooms of music - funk, jazz, percussion, garage, flute and every other thing you can think of. Book at Ticketek.

* A kauri forest walkway takes you to surreal lounge and tribal house dance areas at the Bang Dance Party in the Lakeside Convention Centre, Manukau City. Tickets are $80 from Ticketek.

* Paihia hosts The Party 2003 at Haruru Falls. The lineup has goodshirt, the feelers, Pluto, Che Fu, Tadpole, Fur Patrol, Blindspot, Rubicon, Revolver, Golden Horse, Exit and Tollhouse. Gates open at midday, free shuttle buses run from Paihia every hour and tickets are available from the information centre or at the gate.

* New Year's Resolution in Whitianga promises an electronic dance festival on the 309 Rd, just 12 minutes from the town centre. The four zones cover techno, house, trance, hip hop, hardcore, hard house and all the rest, from midday today to midday tomorrow. Tickets from Ticketek and most Whitianga shops.

* Xcalibre play at 8pm and Contagious hit the stage at 10pm in Williamson Park, Whangamata.

* Roma is the dance Mecca in Tauranga, and Hoki, the Docta and Gopal are the acts. DJ Roger Berry and friends will be at Astrolabe in Mt Maunganui, and the Zeatles entertain outdoors on Marine Parade in the Mount.

Alcohol bans in place at popular rave spots

Haruru Falls, Paihia - from 4pm today to 4am tomorrow - Puketona Rd, 1km either side of the main entrance to the concert site.

Paihia - 4pm today to 8am tomorrow - All public places in the Paihia and Waitangi waterfront areas and adjacent roads, including the beachfront, from the Waitangi bridge to the first bridge at Te Haumi.

Whangarei - Banned from Christmas between 7pm and 7am on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays - All Whangarei's streets.

Auckland CBD and Viaduct Harbour - from 6 this evening to 5am tomorrow - central Auckland area bound by Quay St, Viaduct Harbour to Halsey St, Fanshawe St, Hobson St, Pitt St to K Rd, and Queen St, Mayoral Drive, Kitchener St and Britomart Place.

Piha - Liquor banned until Anniversary Day, January 27.

Whitianga - 4pm to 4am daily up to and including January 6 - on the following beaches and reserves: Whitianga, Wharekaho, Cooks Beach, Hahei, Hot Water Beach, Matarangi, Whangapoua, Kuaotunu, Otamo, Opito Bay, Matapaua Bay.

Whangamata - 4pm to 4am daily up to and including January 6 - All beaches and reserve areas. Roads bounded by Ocean Rd, The Esplanade, Graham and Lowe Sts, and within Williamson Park. Northern end of Seaview Rd from the Link, Eastern end of Beach Rd from Rutherford Rd and Northern end of Port Rd from Barrowclough Rd. All beaches and reserves in Onemana and Opoutere.

Pauanui - 4pm to 4am daily up to and including January 6 - All places including roads, beaches and reserves. Kennedy Park from 10am to 10pm on January 2.

Tairua - 4pm to 4am daily up to and including January 6 - All beaches, reserves and wharves, Hemi Place, Paku Drive, Ocean Beach Rd, Papa Reserve, Pelley Pde, Wharf Rd, The Esplanade.