Here are all the category winners, as well as the supreme winner for NZ Herald's Best Beach competition 2024. Video / Carson Bluck
Not even wet weather could get in the way of 15,000 reggae music fans who filled the Tauranga Domain with dancing and singing over the Auckland Anniversary weekend for One Love 2024.
Festivalgoers started lining up along Tauranga’s Cameron Rd more than two hours before gates were set to open today.
And heavy rainfall later in the day did not stop festivalgoers from enjoying the festival’s food, music and “perfect” vibes.
Image 1 of 10: Festival goers show off the kai on offer
It was the first One Love festival to be held since 2022 when the concert could not go ahead due to Covid-19 restrictions. Last year, the event was cancelled due to extreme weather conditions.
More than 15,000 people from all over New Zealand and as far abroad as Japan and Finland flocked to Wharepai Domain to cheer on their favourite artists.
“I met a guy from France,” Richard Poti of Hastings said.
Poti and his family were the first in line at the One Love gate on Sunday morning.
“It’s been great. The vibe’s been positive,” Poti said.
“We wanted to get in early so we could stand at the front of the stage, get a good view.”
Richard Poti (left), Rihari Poti and Whetu Meihana were the first in line at the One Love gates on Sunday. Photo / Maryana Garcia
Whetu Meihana from Auckland said Saturday had been “packed” and the atmosphere at the festival was “buzzy”.
Mitch Dalton from Coromandel said this was his first One Love festival experience and the weekend’s vibes had been “perfect”.
“We’re all here for the same reason. It’s all about the music and everyone was excited,” Dalton said.
“The set-up is great. It caters for everyone.”
Friends Nikkie Te Moni and Laura Reid and Mitch Dalton (right), from Coromandel. Dalton said this, his first One Love experience, was 'perfect'. Photo / Maryana Garcia
Kaea Adams from Auckland said she and her friends Kahu More and Sharlene Morunga had decided to go camping for their first One Love festival weekend.
“I always heard One Love was so good. My family has raved about it so I had to go experience it for myself.”
Adams said One Love was “amazing” and she was most excited to see Spawnbreezie and Fiji perform live.
Friends Kahu More, Sharlene Morunga and Kaea Adams (right), from Auckland camped out in Tauranga for the festival weekend. Photo / Maryana Garcia
Rain started falling as One Love 2024′s first artist in the Sunday lineup, Tauranga band Corella, took to the stage.
But festival-goers did not let the wet weather stop them from jumping up and down in front of the stage.
Many just threw on brightly coloured plastic ponchos and kept dancing.
Friends Paris Hatcher, Paanga Te Rangi Smith and Māia Morey enjoying the performance of Sunday's first One Love artist, Tauranga band Corella. Photo / Maryana Garcia
One Love Festival promoter Glenn Meikle said the event organisers were “all excited for the re-invigoration of One Love”.
“One Love has always been a staple on Aotearoa’s summer festival calendar and we’re pleased that 2024 marks the return of this ultimate reggae celebration.”
In a statement, One Love owners and promoters Glenn Meikle and Matthew Spratt said the One Love team and the “thousands of people” who attended were pleased to see the event return in 2024.
Heavy rain fell for about an hour on Sunday night but the majority of attendees stuck around until the end to watch Stefflon Don and Sean Paul, the statement said.
“Attendees were in good spirits and people really turned out for their favourite artists. It didn’t matter what stage artists performed on, or the weather conditions, people flocked and had a good time,” Spratt said.
“The feedback from festivalgoers who remained until the end was that they couldn’t get any more soaked than they already were so they weren’t going to let the rain stop them from enjoying themselves,’ Spratt said.
“We made sure it was a massive celebration, with more than 50 artists performing across two stages over two days,” Meikle said.
“With many people travelling to Tauranga from all parts of New Zealand, Australia and around the world, I’d say we were able to do our bit to boost the local economy that we live in,” Meikle said.
