New Year fun for the family

There is a diverse range of events to enjoy this New Year, including the annual Waipu Highland Games. Matt Rossitter tossing the Stone at last year's games. Photo / Ron Burgin

Strong men in kilts, fireworks, music and dancing - this is how you will be able to welcome the new year in Northland.

It is only a few days until the countdown till midnight and Northland is offering a diverse range of events to start 2015 with a bang.

Thousands are expected to flock to Mangawhai on New Year's Eve for music festival Northern Bass.

Organisers are anticipating between 5500 to 6000 people to the fourth annual event, which features a strong line-up of artists, including Noisia, Andy C, Fat Freddy's Drop, Goldie and New York rapper Pharaoh Monch, to name a few.

If you want to enjoy bands on a smaller scale, local pubs and bars are likely to have something to suit.

U2 fans may want to head along to the Mangonui Hotel on New Year's Eve for the U2 Tribute show at 9pm. If you want to welcome 2015 with some soul, The Reputations will be performing at Alongside in Paihia, from 9pm for the Black and Gold Extravaganza.

The Reputations play authentic vintage soul, funk and gospel-infused covers, ranging from Al Green to Aretha Franklin.

New Year's Day will host the 144th annual Waipu Highland Games. The games bring in more than 8000 people each year to watch competitors put their strength to the test with 22lb (nearly 10kg) Gaelic hammer throws and 56lb (25kg) weights on chains flung into the distance.

Games publicity and promotions manager Pat Hadlee said this year's competition would include several international competitors, making the contest "tough and interesting".

Ms Hadlee said the farmers' walk was the event to watch, where competitors would carry a 160lb (72.5kg) weight in each hand and walk as far as they could.

The 2014 Highland heavyweight winner, Aucklander Jonathan MacFarlane, will be returning to defend his title.

The games will be held at the Waipu Caledonian Grounds, starting at 9.30am.