Fifteen years ago Splore was on the edge of collapse. Now, the festival has sold out three years in a row and, in a world of lockdowns amid Covid-19, 2021 is looking to be the most special yet. Michael Neilson speaks to director John Minty about organising a festival during
Splore 2021: John Minty on Covid nightmares, keeping the festival 'quirky' and Treaty relationships
Saturday night's dress-up party is one of the most popular features of Splore. Photo / File
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"If there is a Covid-19 outbreak we will lose a hell of a lot of money, as there is no insurance.
"Sometimes I wake at 3am and think we should have just delayed, but then I think of all of the punters who are amping for a party - we are doing it for them."
Splore has come a long way from the small psy-trance "hippie" festival held over New Year's Eve in 1998 to become one of the most sought-after events on the summer calendar.
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The past three years have sold out, with 10,000 people now descending on the picturesque Tāpapakanga Regional Park, where it has been held since 2006 on the shores of Tīkapa Moana (Hauraki Gulf).
This year Splore emerges as a homegrown affair, including Kiwi drum and bass/dub pioneers Shapeshifter for the first time since 2008, household names the Topp Twins, and even "huge Splore fan" Clarke Gayford performing a special DJ set (no word yet if his fiance Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, also a past Splore attendee, will be attending).
Evolution of Splore
That first Splore, held on Karioitahi Beach and attended by about 500 people, would be almost unrecognisable to what it has become today.
Co-founders Amanda Wright and Jamie Larnach were inspired by raves in Goa, and outdoor festivals the world over including Burning Man. They wanted something more than just an outdoor dance party; with art, nature and costumes.
In 2002 it shifted to Waharau on the Firth of Thames, where a little-known Fat Freddy's Drop performed famously under a geodesic dome, brought over from Burning Man.
But by 2004, the festival had run into a lot of debt. It was to be the last permitted at Waharau and it was becoming financially unviable.
Minty, who owned and ran central Auckland gig venue Galatos at the time, was friends with the founders and had attended each Splore and he stepped in to save it.
"I knew it was too good to let it die."
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Minty paid off the debt, taking on equity in the festival and becoming co-director.
In 2006, it shifted up the coast to the newly formed Tāpapakanga Regional Park.
In a new environment, and Minty in his new role, he set about roaming the globe for eclectic line-ups, in a bid to boost the appeal of the festival.
He brought in Brooklyn rapper Talib Kweli to headline – the first time a hip-hop artist played at the festival - along with the Cuban Brothers, a Scottish hip hop/breakdance group, among others.
"Those two added another dimension, attracted a crowd that might not have come otherwise, but not enough of a change to detract others," Minty says.
Its popularity gradually increased, and the festival sold out for the first time in 2012.
A few slower years followed before taking off from around 2015. The past three years in a row have sold out - the secret well and truly out.
What's driven this recent surge in popularity, Minty is not totally sure.
"We always knew we had a good event, but I think it's grown through word of mouth, friends encouraging other friends not to miss out."
Social media too, has played a part, with the colourful costumes and beautiful setting providing perfect Instagram content.
"I do fear that might be taking people out of the moment, but as a whole I don't think it's that kind of festival, and artists say compared to overseas there are a lot less people on their phones."
But Minty says it is the sense of community, inclusivity, and liberation from societal constraints, all in a beautiful natural setting, that keep people coming year after year.
Soon after the infamous 2018 Rhythm and Vines "glitter boobs" incident, Minty said many flocked to Splore knowing it would be a safe space free from harassment and judgment.
"We are really happy with the crowd we have, a community built around respect for culture, for the land, for each other.
"People often leave Splore, reluctantly, and saying they feel that's how the world should be."
With the increasing popularity also comes some criticism Splore has strayed too far from its roots, something Minty acknowledges, but ultimately disagrees with.
"There are other festivals with a more 'hippie' edge, but we are now at a point, after 20 years, where we are financially viable, while still being left of centre and edgy.
"And when compared to other major festivals across New Zealand I don't really think anyone could call it mainstream."
What also sets the festival apart is the annual theme - "Mother" this year - and dress-up focus.
Minty said the idea stemmed from attending Bestival on the Isle of Wight in England with Splore co-founder Wright many years ago.
At Splore it started as an entry requirement to the cabaret area, but now each year on the Saturday everybody embraces their creative sides - and increasingly on the Friday too.
Sustainability and culture at the heart
Sustainability, zero waste and a culture of "leave no trace" have always been a huge part of Splore.
It was the first major festival to introduce reusable Globelets, encourages attendees to reduce their waste and to carpool - offering cheaper parking the more people in a car.
This year Splore has gone a step further, making all its operations net carbon zero, and asking attendees to make pledges to reduce their carbon impacts.
They will also for the first time be advertising drug testing, through Know Your Stuff, after the Government legalised the practice late last year.
"We've had it for about five years but it's always been in this legal grey area," Minty says.
"We don't condone drugs, but accept the reality people might bring them in, so the next best thing we can do is keep people safe."
At the heart of what makes Splore so special is its close relationship with mana whenua Ngāti Whanaunga and Ngāti Paoa.
A pōwhiri on the Friday evening sets the tone for the three days ahead, to "respect the land and each other", Minty says.
Tipa Compain, of Ngāti Paoa and Ngāti Whanaunga, is there each year.
"It's a chance to connect with our fellow Treaty partners, New Zealanders, and international visitors, celebrating in a Māori way, in a fun and positive setting."
Their relationship with Splore was one that should be emulated across Aoteaora, he says.
"They have a really good understanding of what it means to have a Treaty partnership, to protect the whenua, in what is essentially a whānau-oriented event of arts and music with quite a long history of welcoming a diverse range of people."
Compain said it was also increasingly an opportunity for the iwi to come together and reconnect on their whenua.
That whānau-friendly vibe was one of Minty's favourite aspects of the festival.
Children under 12 are allowed in free, and about 700 attend with their parents each year.
It is not uncommon to see them roaming free with their parent's cellphone number written on an arm, and families dressing up together.
"Many children have grown up coming along, and some are even coming along now with their own children," Minty says.
"I have never seen festivals that have done it like that, and I think that's a huge part of what makes it so special."
"Quirky" line-ups
Another ploy to maintain a specific crowd was in the line-up choices.
Minty deliberately avoids big household names and, in normal years, would spend the summer months at festivals in Europe seeking out "quirky, left of centre" acts with great stage presence.
"We're not after 2000 or so people coming simply for one big act, but people who will come because they love the environment, with the line-up a bonus."
Highlights for Minty over the years include drum and bass/skat/swing band The Correspondents.
"When they played Splore I think about 10 per cent knew them, and the other 90 per cent were thinking what the hell is going on? But by the end everyone was into them and took special memories with them."
In 2020 there were acts like London spoken word poet, rapper and performer Kate Tempest - who had the audience in a trance; and Brass Against, a brass Rage Against the Machine cover band, which had the main stage crowd headbanging to the sound of a trumpet.
"I want people to come and go wow, I'd never see anything like that anywhere else," Minty says.
This year in limiting his options to New Zealand, Minty said it was an exciting opportunity to explore local talent.
They also increased gender balance, with 60 per cent of performers female - incidentally reflecting the crowd make-up - and 100 per cent main stage performers female or mixed gender.
Minty was also helping Kiwi artists doing it tough, increasing the artist budget 20 per cent.
There are three major unannounced acts as well, which he promises will get the crowds pumping.
"It is definitely nervous times with Covid. But I think we are at a great place with our contact tracing, and our ability to shut down any outbreaks quickly. We are very blessed, with our isolation and a great Government response.
"We are the only place in the world with this freedom, and I think that is going to make this year extra special."
• Splore 2021 runs February 26-28 at Tāpapakanga Regional Park, Auckland.
