Revellers flock to holiday concerts

Party-goers in Paihia rocked in the New Year to high-volume music and litres of good cheer.

An estimated 10,000 New Year's Eve revellers braved heavy traffic and high temperatures to be part of the Bay '99 concert, held near the Bay of Islands town.

The concert featured seven New Zealand acts, including Voom and headliners Shihad.

Just before the clock struck midnight, police said there had been no serious incidents, ambulance staff were having a quiet night, and the detox centre was almost empty.

Further south, at Waihi Beach in the western Bay of Plenty, youngsters boogied to thumping music and generally behaved in a raucous fashion.

Waihi Beach was the night's mecca for about 10,000 sun-sizzled teenagers from all over the North Island. They gathered to greet the last year of the millennium with an orgy of international skateboarding, BMX bike riding and the pounding of 17 loud bands.

The venue for the alcohol-free event, the Vans Warped Tour, is a cow paddock about 5 km from town. At the gates, friendly but large security guards in white shirts and sunglasses deterred a steady stream of would-be booze smugglers.

Inside, a large black stage was flanked by a mountain of impressively loud speakers. Heads bobbed and shook violently in the "mosh pit," a colloquial term for the dance area in front of the stage.

"Everyone's raging," said one 14-year-old youth. "We will be here until 2 am."
St John Ambulance staff were happy because there had been no trouble apart from one skate-boarder breaking a femur.

Several dozen police were happy because their only problem so far had been a seven-hour traffic jam.

Concert organisers were happy because up to 10,000 people had forked out $50 each to be there.

The youngsters were just generally happy to have 12 hours of entertainment. - STAFF REPORTERS

Pictured: Concert-goers at Bay '98, north of Paihia. HERALD PICTURE / PAUL ESTCOURT