The first night of the three-day Rhythm and Vines music festival in Gisborne was "by far bigger" than last year's New Year's Eve party, as more than 25,000 converged on festival site Waiohika, says director Scott Witters.
The crowd was out in force to party into the night, but mainly to get first-hand experience of the festival's headline act, Australian-British drum and bass act Pendulum.
About 250 security staff were on the ground to keep fans in check.
Headliners Pendulum had the crowd amped when they took the stage. They "pushed the boat out" for their final performance as a group until 2013.
The barrier in front of the stage, manned by eight security guards, was still standing by the end of the night.
One of Pendulum's vocalists yelled to the crowd, "Are you ready Gisborne?"
The crowd responded with a roar.
But it was Grandmaster Flash that had people talking.
The America-based hip-hop band performed a selection of the biggest hits from the last 30 years on the Vines stage and had people saying "they were one of the acts of the night".
Mr Witters said organisers did not think the band would resonate so well with the crowd, but they did.
"They went off the hook. Their songs cater to all ages."
The night kicked off fittingly when Gisborne band Ethnic Roots took the stage at 6pm and performed original songs.
The wairua (spirit) of local iwi Te Aitanga a Mahaki was felt when five- time national kapa haka champions Waihirere took the stage just after 7pm to perform the powhiri.
Following on from them was Zowie, Architecture in Helsinki and Sampology.
For many festival-goers, the R and V atmosphere was hard to beat.
Australians John O'Connor and Blake Garland were at their first R and V concert - "the best festival we have seen in our lives".
"The whole vineyard set-up is truly one-of-a-kind and far from something I have seen before," said Mr O'Connor.
"The atmosphere is great, there is plenty to drink and the weather is fantastic.
"We (Australia) have taken the pavlova... we are going to take R&V; next."
Electric Avenue, a strip of area with sideshows and food stalls, was decked out with all sorts from a mini tattoo parlour to a massage service.
The waterslide proved a popular attraction for punters.
About 20 people had the stomach to go down naked and scored free rides. It was a gold coin donation for the rest - all proceeds going to Surf Life Saving Gisborne.
Development officer Jeremy Lockwood said there were a handful of incidents at the slide. One man was taken away by ambulance staff when he knocked his head on the way down.
Mr Witters said the event ran smoothly with no major problems.
"The festival is in its ninth year and in that time there have been only three arrests."
St John Ambulance staff dealt with about 30 minor-injury patients by 9pm.
Operations manager Jeremy Gooders said many of the cases were minor fractures and injuries caused as a result of "typical drunken behaviour".
"The R and V period is our busiest time of the year."
-APNZ