St John team at R&V ‘did a great job’

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

“Nothing untoward, which was great” is how St John ambulance Tairāwhiti operations manager Shane Clapperton summed up the final night of the Rhythm and Vines Festival.

He praised his team for the work they did over the four days.

The ambulance officers treated a sizeable number of festival-goers during the course of the event for a range of medical conditions and injuries, and some drug and alcohol issues.

Six people were transported from the festival to Gisborne Hospital for further treatment on Friday and Saturday nights.

“They were for medical and injury reasons,” Mr Clapperton said.

“Those two nights were no different from previous years when it comes to issues with drugs and alcohol.

“We were particularly busy on Saturday afternoon and into the night, and the heat that day definitely played a part. We saw a lot of people with heat-related issues.”

Mr Clapperton said the final night of the festival was again similar to previous years.

“Nothing untoward, too, which was great.

“We did transport two people to hospital that night, both of them for medical ailments.

“There were some drug and alcohol issues we had to handle but nothing that needed a trip to hospital.”

Mr Clapperton said the 30 staff he had on at peak times worked really well.

“It was a great team and they did a great job.

“I’m very happy with how they went.”