Get ready to enjoy live music at festivals around New Zealand this summer.
December 29-31
Settlement Road, Mangawhai
This New Year's festival is held in the hills of Mangawhai on a site that features a freshwater lagoon, and accomodates both campers and day-trippers, with an emphasis on the genres of drum n bass, dubstep, and hip-hop. Artists this year include Shapeshifter, Andy C, Skepta and Foreign Beggars.
December 29-31
Waiohika Estate, Gisborne
New Zealand's largest New Year's festival is held in the surrounds of a rolling green vineyard just out of Gisborne, with camping on site, and hosts acts of all genres, plus this year they've also added a comedy line-up. Acts include Peking Duck, Mac Miller, Dave Dobbyn, and Angus and Julia Stone.
Dec 30-31
Cardrona Valley, Wanaka
The South Island's largest music festival is nestled among the mountains, with camping on site, and has a similarly diverse line-up to Rhythm and Vines. Acts this year include Shihad, Carl Cox, Sticky Fingers, and Weird Together.
January 2
Bay Park Stadium, Mt Maunganui
A new one-day festival coming to Mt Maunganui includes Pendulum, DJ Premier, Chali2na, The Black Seeds and Concord Dawn. Held at Bay Park Stadium on January 2, Homebrew, LAB, Virtual Rio, Barely Alive, Dodge and Fuski, Astronaut and Dubloadz will also perform on the dance and hip-hop-friendly bill. Drum N Bass act Pendulum will perform a DJ set, while rapper Chali2na will appear with his band The House of Vibe.
January 8-10
Wainui Reserve, Raglan
The multi-genre, multi-media event is held right next to the beach and has an emphasis on local artists, and a relaxed atmosphere with pass-outs. The line-up includes The Black Seeds, State of Mind, Tiki Taane, and Trinity Roots.
February 1
Silo Park, Auckland
The urban, alternative music festival is held annually on Auckland's Anniversary Day, right next to the harbour, and crosses wide-ranging genres, with an eye for up and coming artists. This year acts include Chvrches, Beach House, Flume, Grimes, Hudson Mohwake, and Vince Staples. No camping required.
February 6-7
Tauranga Domain, Tauranga
As the name suggests, this two-day festival is all about reggae roots and dub. There's no camping right on site (which is near the edge of Tauranga Harbour), but you can camp a short distance away. Acts this year include J Boog, Common Kings, Katchafire, Tomorrow People and Che Fu.
February 19-21
Tapapakanga Regional Park, Auckland
Splore is an all-encompassing festival of art, culture, music, performance, and entertainment, with a main stage you can see from the water while you're swimming, and its regional park site, including camping areas, decorated to the nines. The line-up includes Leftfield, Little Simz, and The Cuban Brothers.
February 20
Trusts Arena, Auckland
This long-running one-day festival moved to Trusts Stadium in Auckland in 2015, and has an emphasis on big international acts from the soul/hip hop/reggae world. This year you can check out acts like Macy Gray, UB40, The Game, Xzibit, Sly and Robbie, and House of Pain.
March 18-20
Bowl of Brooklands, New Plymouth
A truckload of acts from exotic, far-flung lands with stories to tell and music to share, a beautiful, entirely grassed setting with one main stage set in the middle of a pond, and half a field taken over by fantastic food stalls. There really is something for everyone at this very family friendly festival. Acts this year include St Germain, De La Soul, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, and John Grant.
March 19
Western Springs, Auckland
A new festival for Auckland, taking some inspiration from Austin City Limits, the acts cross a range of genres, and there will be as much emphasis on food and art in the idyllic surrounds of Western Springs park. Acts so far include The National, Kendrick Lamar, Tami Neilson and Shakey Graves.
April 2
Wellington Waterfront
This one-day Wellington festival is all about Kiwi acts, with nearly 50 artists spread across six stages along the waterfront. All tastes are catered for: rock, electronica, dob & roots, alternative, pop, hip hop, soul...you name it they've got it. And this year it's being held on the last day of Daylight Savings.
February 5, 13, 20, and 27
Auckland Zoo
Not strictly a festival, but a series of musical events at Auckland Zoo showcasing local artists. So far they've announced Fly My Pretties, Stan Walker, Bic Runga & Tiny Ruins, and they have one more line-up to come next week.
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