Australia & New Zealand News: NSW To Introduce Pill Testing At Festivals, Woodford Folk Fundraising To Buy Site Back, Dom Dolla Sets Attendance Record & More

AUSTRALIA
NSW To Introduce Pill Testing At Festivals
After a decade of rejecting calls from drug reform activists, New South Wales is trialling pill-testing at a dozen music festivals for 12 months, starting in weeks.

In the meantime, the first of Victoria’s inaugural testing season has been hailed a success.

Details of the 12 NSW festivals taking part are still being worked out, but the events will have “a history of drug overdoses.” Two died at Knockout Circuz last October, with four hospitalised in December at Epik.

The “free and anonymous” service, conducted by NSW Health, costs A$1 million ($624,701). Australia’s first trial took place in Canberra in 2018 at Groovin’ The Moo.

But these operated in a legal grey area, and were canceled 2022 after the festival’s insurer threatened to pull out. The NSW and Victorian governments provide amnesty to personal consumption testers and promoters while police dog patrols will continue to target suppliers.

Health minister Ryan Park observed, “There are no silver bullets here. But if there are any further steps we can take to keep young people safe this festival season, we’ll listen to the experts and the evidence.”

Victoria’s first of 10 tests over a year took place at Untitled Group’s Beyond The Valley outside Melbourne (Dec. 28 – Jan. 1). Acting minister for mental health, Mary-Anne Thomas, confirmed the service reached 700 of the 35,000 patrons and tested 600 samples.

MDMA, ketamine and cocaine were the common drugs presented for testing. Testers said results were “beyond expectations.” Nearly 40% planned to reduce their drug intake after talking to a healthcare worker as part of the process.

Woodford Folk Fundraising To Buy Site Back
Queensland’s Woodford Folk Festival, which drew 100,000 patrons Dec. 27 to Jan. 1, started a crowd-funding campaign to buy back its 163-hectare site Woodfordia from the local council.

It bought the site 1994 but had to sell it for A$4 million ($2.49 million) following the financial losses and weather damages from 2010-11 floods, on the proviso ownership could revert one day.

Organisers are hoping to raise A$5.7 million ($3.56 million) by July 2026, to fulfil its 500-year vision “to gift future generations a place of peace and potential, free from debt—financial, social, and environmental,” managing director Amanda Jackes said.

Dom Dolla Sets Attendance Record
Dom Dolla’s seven open-air shows Nov. 29 to Dec. 21 set a new Australian attendance record, according to promoter Untitled Group.

It reported, “With over 170,000 tickets sold across four cities, these shows mark the largest tour ever by an Australian electronic artist. Featuring greenfield sites and record-breaking crowds, the tour underscores his growing influence on both the Australian music industry and on a global scale.”

The DJ heads back to North America early Feb to Aug 2, taking in seven dates including New Orleans, Aspen, Miami and Toronto.

NEW ZEALAND
Wild Weather Fails To Squash NYE Festivals
Wild weather on New Year’s Eve forced cancellation of events around New Zealand, but the global contingent of 20-something backpackers and thrill seekers refused to miss out on being first festival goers in the world to see in the new year.

In its 22nd year, Rhythm & Vines (Dec. 29-31) in Gisborne drew 25,000, who opted for gumboots and plastic ponchos for choice of fashion, and spent NZ$12 million ($6.76 million) at local businesses.

Uber joined a brands portfolio put together by Live Nation, with One NZ, Pals, Red Bull, McDonalds, Booster Savvy and Lipton Iced Tea.

For the 14th year in a row, Rhythm & Alps on South Island had 20,000 each day (Dec. 30-31) in picturesque Cardrona Valley. New Zealand’s Shapeshifter rang in 2025 with a massive fireworks display, and R&A’s music con