As the dust settles following the announcement that Rhythm and Vines will leave Gisborne after this year’s festival, Tairāwhiti is turning its attention to the future.
By Imogen Brophy for Local Democracy Reporting
Gisborne Mayor Rehette Stoltz says she remains optimistic new opportunities will emerge to attract visitors to the region.
“We have consistently advocated for Gisborne as the perfect R&V location over the past 24 years.
“I have been actively liaising with Trust Tairāwhiti who have been working behind the scenes to proactively secure possible events and festivals to bring vibrancy and a much-needed economic injection to our region.”
In the meantime, Stoltz said continued support for local hospitality and tourism businesses would be essential to help them succeed.
An R&V commissioned economic impact survey in 2024 estimated the festival boosted the local gross domestic product by $4.2m, and visitor expenditure that year reached $5.2m.
The chief executive of regional tourism agency Trust Tairāwhiti, Doug Jones, said the region’s appeal extended beyond the presence of the festival.
“The experience has been shaped by Tairāwhiti itself - our people, our place, and the opportunity to be the first place in the world to welcome the new year.
“Those qualities remain unchanged and continue to make this an exceptional place to visit.”
While no single event could replace Rhythm and Vines’ economic impact, Jones said Trust Tairāwhiti remained confident the region would continue attracting visitors through a diverse calendar of events.
SuperGrans Tairāwhiti Trust, last year’s festival charity beneficiary, was saddened by the departure, chairwoman Molly Pardoe said.
“It was such a wonderful thing to see all the thousands of young people around the city, and for 24 years it’s been in our city. We have to be grateful for that,” said Pardoe, who performed at 81 years of age as a DJ at last year’s R&V - the oldest artist in the festival’s history.
For Supergrans, fundraising for charities, alongside providing wellbeing and kai assistance, was increasingly difficult, making the exposure from the festival invaluable.
“We’ve got a couple of little exciting things happening that we’re working on at the moment,” Pardoe said.
“Our next couple of options are looking very positive, and I think that would have come from our exposure and our relationship and people getting to know what we do.
Pardoe hoped young people and local businesses would make the most of the festival’s final year in Gisborne.
“I think everyone will be out celebrating and the local businesses will really put their best foot forward.
“We will all make them very proud that they have spent so many years in Tairāwhiti.”
She remained tight-lipped about whether she would return to the DJ decks after last year’s turntable performance.
- LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
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