Rains Spoil Some NZ Festivals

Heavy torrential rains that flooded low-lying areas affected some New Year’s Eve parties throughout New Zealand.

Celebrations on Wellington’s waterfront – including a concert at Frank Kitts Park with Niko Ne Zna, Avidiva, African drummers and fire performers – were canceled. So were similar events in Palmerston and Mt Maunganui.

But the rain was not a deterrent for the Rhythm and Vines festival in Gisborne, which drew nearly 30,000 to see headliners Six 60, Cut Copy and Calvin Harris.

Many upgraded tickets to get under the VIP tent.

Festivals including Wairarapa’s La De Da (where 60 percent of the performances were in the open air) and Coro Gold in Whitianga also reported strong attendance.

The inaugural EarthTonz music festival near Queenstown had to contend with scorching weather.

The bill – which featured a bass-heavy DJ set by Motley Crue’s Tommy Lee and DJ Aero, DJ Muggs of Cypress Hill, Crystal Method, Planet of the Drums and Dutch duo Kraak & Smaak – attracted between 2,000 and 2,500, according to festival producer Dan Allen, who declared the event “a success.”

Organisers anticipated a turnout of 10,000.