La De Da organiser all smiles

La De Da organiser Josh Mossman welcomed 4000 concert-goers over a few hours yesterday afternoon after a half-million dollar battle to launch the inaugural New Year festival in Martinborough.
Mr Mossman was expecting the La De Da tent city to swell to 5000 by the time the first bands hit the stage last night for the opening of the festival, which is being held at Alana Estate vineyard on the outskirts of the town.
The festival is set to attract 12,500 concert-goers in total, he says, but about half will be staying off-site.
Bands include Kora, Hollie Smith, Salmonella Dub, Katchafire and The Naked and Famous.
Mr Mossman said he had, at first, been expecting to make a six-figure profit from the festival.
But that has now "dropped a zero" since the protracted legal wrangle to green-light the event, battling against objectors.
However, next year he is hoping to double the capacity of a similar event at the site and pocket a profit "more in the seven-figure region", he said.
Mr Mossman said there were 800 La De Da crew working the event, including up to 75 police officers, fire and first aid officers, and a 150-strong security crew.
He said there had been "a seamless unity" of police and emergency services in Martinborough.
He believed the town supported the enterprise and would share in the benefits it brought.
Mr Mossman agrees with acting Wairarapa area police Inspector Paul Basham that all bases are covered regarding security and alcohol consumption at the all-ages event.
Mr Basham yesterday said more than 80 police would be on duty throughout Wairarapa over the three-day New Year period that started last night.
He said a significant number of police would be rostered at the event at Alana Estate and there would be resident police officers at both the Castlepoint and Riversdale beach resorts.
He will be "roving" the region and is unsure where he will be at midnight tonight - but "will be where I am needed most".
Mr Basham said police "want everyone to have a good time but I urge moderation and responsible behaviour".
There was a small fire yesterday afternoon in a carpark at the La De Da event, which was dowsed by a security crew before Martinborough firefighters arrived. St John Ambulance regional manager David Rowland said that by 4pm there had already been 20 people treated for various complaints, most significantly sunburn.
He is expecting more cases of dehydration and heat exhaustion. There will be at least six St John officers on duty throughout the event.