Rhythm and Vines: Gisborne CBD all but gridlocked as wet, muddy festivalgoers flock to town centre

Muddy conditions at Rhythm and Vines music festival on New Year's Eve 2024.

Gumboots and plastic ponchos were the order of day two of the 2024 edition of Rhythm and Vines in Gisborne as conditions emulated one of the world’s most famous long-running music festivals: Glastonbury.

R&V organisers described it as “good, muddy fun” for the 25,000 attendees who enjoyed music across the four stages at Waiohika Estate.

As expected, when thousands of young revellers are pouring into town, things can get a little chaotic.

Gisborne’s city centre was all but gridlocked at times yesterday as festivalgoers, holidaymakers and locals converged in town on a rainy end to the year.

Wet and hungry festival folk sought to escape their sodden surroundings at Waiohika Estate, generating immense traffic volume in the CBD – on the main street, Gladstone Rd, and many side streets.

“It was crazy out there,” a long-time local told the Gisborne Herald, while another said they had “never seen anything like it”.

“When the kids come to town for the festival, it gets busy every year – but this is next-level, I reckon, and it’s because of the rain.”

Parking was at a premium.

City eateries did a roaring trade, possibly more than what’s usual for the short but intense period of the festival, which has now been running for over 20 years.

Big queues were seen at most cafes and fast-food outlets.

It was fun in the rain for the masses on a sodden second day of Rhythm and Vines. Plastic ponchos and gumboots were the dominant fashion.

In contrast to Monday’s lovely weather, the beaches were drab and dreary places and practically empty of festivalgoers, apart from those having a shower at the city surf clubs and Kiwa Pools.

The red danger flag was still flying at the Waikanae and Midway surf clubs, with health warnings persisting as a result of sewage pollution caused by emergency discharge overflows into the city rivers from Boxing Day rain.

Warning signs remained in place along the rivers and at the city beaches until five days after the scours were closed, which was at midday last Saturday.

Gisborne District Council checked on the placement of the warning signs on Monday after a report one had been stolen.

“The one located by [the] Captain Morgans cul-de-sac was removed and was replaced, along with any other signs that may have been removed,” a council spokesman said.

“The signs are up for the public’s safety, so we would ask that they are not removed. Replacement stocks are limited.”

Up until 2pm on Tuesday afternoon, the airport weather station had recorded 16mm of rain over the previous 24 hours.

Other council gauges in the city recorded a bit more – 34mm at Wheatstone Road, 26mm in Stout St.

It was predicted to get heavier later in the afternoon and ease off into the evening.

The odd shower was forecast for New Year’s Day.

Meanwhile, R&V organisers urged festivalgoers not to be in a rush to leave the campgrounds, which were to remain open until 4pm on Wednesday.

Organisers said police would be conducting random breath-tests outside the venue, and to expect delays.

They encouraged people to “make responsible decisions before getting behind the wheel” and “respect the Tairāwhiti region and take your tests and camping possessions with you”.

The health warning signs on the city beaches should come down sometime on Thursday. This is a replacement for the sign stolen at the Waikanae end of Grey St. Photo / Murray Robertson