The Central App

R&A music festival set to rock New Year's in orange light

The Central App

RNZ

05 December 2021, 7:08 PM

R&A music festival set to rock New Year's in orange light Crowds party at a previous Rhythm and Alps festival. Photo: Supplied

Rhythm and Alps in Wanaka, promoted as the South Island's biggest New Year's festival, will be bucking the trend for large events and going ahead this year.


Events around the country such as the popular Rhythm and Vines in Gisborne have either been cancelled or postponed due to the difficulties in checking vaccine certificates.


However the organisers of the three-day music and camping festival in the Cardrona Valley said they have found a way.



It involved punters integrating their certificates with their festival tickets online.


"We've spent a lot of time in due diligence on this vaccine passport, so the precautions are all set at the gate," organiser Alex Turnbull said.


"Each attendee will be required to upload their vaccine passport to their ticketing account prior to entering the festival grounds."

Staff checking their tickets at the gate would be able to see straight away if they'd received both vaccinations.


Organisers said with Queenstown and Wānaka sitting at 95 percent double vaccinated, they were confident they would be able to put on a safe party for the 10,000 expected to attend.


They said 40 percent of attendees came from outside the region which provided a boost to the local economy.