"It was just a mudfest like you've never seen - a Rhythm and Vines, or more like Glastonbury really," she said.
"And the crowd were actually pleased to see us there, which we absolutely appreciated as well. It meant we could enjoy the night too. If you can do that knee-deep in mud."
Festival director Josh Mossman said about 10,000 revellers had been expected to attend and he was "pretty happy with the numbers" despite the steady drizzle affecting gate-takings.
He said festival organisers had shipped in more shelter and heaters and had been selling gumboots "by the hundreds".
About 25 tonnes of stone chip had been trucked on to the site as well to help vehicles enter and exit in the conditions.
Mrs Watson praised festival organisers and said police and security officers had been ready for emergency deployment that was "fortunately" not needed.
She said Tactical Alcohol Group police officers had arrested "a reasonable number" of drivers leaving the festival, although other drivers who had not attended La De Da had also been arrested over the weekend in South Wairarapa.
She said there were almost 70 officers stationed in Wairarapa over the weekend, policing the festival, beaches and towns.
Mrs Watson said a minor scuffle among New Year revellers had been reported at the Whakataki Hotel near Castlepoint about 2am yesterday and arrests had been made for disorderly behaviour.
Constable Peter Cunningham, who was stationed at the resort over the weekend, said he attended an incident involving a drunken teenager who gashed his arm after breaking a bach window. An ambulance took the teenager to Wairarapa Hospital.
Constable Richie Day, stationed at Riversdale Beach, said seven teenagers had been cited for underage drinking but the weekend had otherwise been incident free.
Masterton firefighters attended a suspicious car fire in Ngaumutawa Rd about 12.30am and Featherston firefighters were called to an incident on the Rimutaka Hill Rd involving a motorcyclist who fell from his bike.
