Police praise La De Da organisers

Shapeshifter perform to a crowd of thousands on New Years Eve at the La De Da 2012 New Years Festival. Photo / Aaron Moffitt

Police and organisers have praised the 2012 La De Da New Year's Festival as an untroubled event that brought together more than 7000 revellers in a South Wairarapa paddock.

Masterton police Senior Sergeant Carolyn Watson said up to 20 officers policed Daisybank Farm near Martinborough where organisers held the annual two-day event, which for the third year running, had been completed without any police charges being laid.

Organiser Josh Mossman said ticket sales were capped for the latest event, which ran on December 30 and 31, and 7400 revellers had passed through the gates to enjoy the 42 acts that performed at the festival.

Ms Watson said festival-goers had been in good spirits throughout the event and on-site security personnel also had been on hand throughout.

"We were happy with how it's all gone. The site being smaller meant it was much more manageable and it appeared there was a bit more of a mix of ages than we expected," she said.

"They were tailoring toward the 18- to 25-year-olds but it did look like party-goers were older.

"The event tended to police itself because the people were campers, it was a one o'clock bar close, and the crowd behaviour was good."

Mr Mossman said American hip-hoppers De La Soul had been a highlight on Sunday night and Kiwi drum & bass unit Shapeshifter had galvanised the crowd on New Year's Eve.

"Everything was cranking. It was so, so great. We're definitely coming back to Martinborough next year," he said.

Masterton performer Kaleb Vitale, aka K.One, also had performed at the festival earlier on Monday and said before the event he was keen to be part of the luminary line-up.

Mr Mossman said organisers had been aiming for 7000 punters and were thrilled to better the total by several hundred.

He said tickets would be capped for the next festival as well because the lower number had helped create a more successful and manageable event.

"We may have a thousand more tickets maybe but no more than that. What we got this year was a good number ... we're keen to keep it quite boutique."