Festival tightens BYO rules

From left, Cameron Knudsen, Evan Plester, Andy Rutherford, Isaac Kerr, Jared Tomblinson, Josh Lankford, Don Gray and Lincoln Lam, relax at their tent site yesterday. Photo / Gisborne Herald

Rhythm & Vines says earlier start and more events help put engagement above drinking.

The Rhythm and Vines festival kicked off in Gisborne yesterday with major changes to alcohol policy after riots broke out last year.

Young party-goers packed into the campground - about 4500 people on Monday with another 3000 expected yesterday - which is in a paddock next to the festival's stages at Waiohika Estate vineyard on the town's outskirts.

The corresponding Bay Watch Summer Festival, based at a campground at the beach in the town's centre, was canned after cars were overturned and tents set on fire during an event last year. The riots led to 63 arrests and 83 people were injured.

More festival-goers are this year now based at the onsite campground, where BYO alcohol is limited, unlike the Bay Watch festival.

"These days, with everyone onsite, we have provided more entertainment, more food and more happening all the time," festival organiser Hamish Pinkham said.

Organisers have arranged an earlier start time, a range of attractions including yoga and Zumba classes, live comedy, hip-hop, dance music and folk rock, and a wide variety of food and craft beer.

The earlier 2pm start meant R&V had returned to its roots, Mr Pinkham said. Earlier starts were in line with festival operations in Europe.

Phasing out the BYO culture was also aligned with festival developments around the world.

Festival-goers in search of refreshment can visit the beer gardens or cider shack where European-style picnic tables have been installed. These initiatives were part of a move to encourage people to get away from the old culture of drinking around their tents and engaging more with the festival.

Once the entertainment starts, we hope people will just get out there and enjoy it.

Hamish Pinkham

"It is about the evolution of the festival," said Mr Pinkham.

"Once the entertainment starts, we hope people will just get out there and enjoy it."

The festival finishes in the early hours of Friday.

Concord Dawn, Dave Dobbyn, Hollie Smith, Scribe and P-Money are among the acts playing on New Year's Eve.

Mr Pinkham said everything was ready for a bumper 13th episode.

In Auckland, the Sky Tower is preparing for its New Year's Eve midnight display.

A four-hour show will include a laser animation show beamed on to the Sky Tower culminating in a five-minute pyrotechnic display set to "Kiwi-flavoured music" at midnight.

Testing took place last night and will continue tonight.

- Gisborne Herald and NZ Herald staff