Sky lights up at midnight hour
AS if by divine intervention, rain cleared across Otago and Southland, drawing New Year’s Eve revellers to outdoor celebrations in their thousands.
Dunedin’s new year started with a bang.
Following an evening of live music and dancing in the Octagon, a single cannon shot at midnight heralded the arrival of 2019.
It was followed by the singing of Auld Lang Syne and a dazzling fiveminute display of fireworks which thrilled an eclectic mix of several thousand locals and tourists who filled the city centre.
There were large turnouts to New Year’s Eve events throughout the southern region.
In Queenstown, now known as one of New Zealand’s party capitals, thousands whooped and hollered as a spectacular fireworks display began 2019 on Queenstown Bay.
About 3km of waterfront from Queenstown Gardens past Steamer Wharf was packed with revellers wanting to see in the new year.
Many danced the night away in front of a stage on Earnslaw Park or outside Eichardt’s Private Hotel — or both.
It was estimated about 15,000 people were in the Queenstown CBD for the new year countdown.
Earlier in the day, there was an aerial acrobatics show over the bay by Arrowtown circus school teacher Abigail Rose and three others.
In what is thought to be a first in New Year’s Eve entertainment in New Zealand, they were suspended about 25m in the air, from a crane, and their performance was based on the fairy tale Hoheria Blossom.
Wanaka also drew what is believed to be one of the town’s largest New Year’s Eve celebrations in recent years.
By the time midnight arrived, about 5000 people had enjoyed bands and a warm, calm evening.
Conditions were perfect for the fireworks display, which was launched from a barge in the lake.
Things got a little bit country at Lake Hawea, thanks to the Top Paddock music festival at the Lake Hawea Hotel.
Nine acts entertained about 2000 people on two stages from 4pm.
The popular Rhythm & Alps event in the Cardrona Valley also attracted a crowd of about 10,000 on New Year’s Eve.
In Central Otago, drinks and dinner were the most popular choice of New Year’s Eve celebrations, as crowds assembled at bars and restaurants in Clyde, Cromwell, Bannockburn, Alexandra and Naseby.
In Clyde, there was live music at Olivers and a DJ at the Dunstan Hotel, and a bagpiper signalled the New Year at the Ancient Briton, in Naseby.
Southland’s biggest New Year’s Eve celebration was again held in Te Anau.
The Rotary Club of Fiordland organised music at Lions Park, as well as the impressive lakeside fireworks display at midnight.
Event organiser Shayne Mercer said it was too difficult to put a number on the attendance but he believed it was the biggest turnout yet for a New Year’s Eve event.
The inaugural Bass Camp Festival, held at Camp Taringatura, between Invercargill and Dipton, also attracted large crowds.
While there was no main urban celebration for North Otago this year, holidaymakers were kept entertained by the many pubs in the Waitaki Lakes and Oamaru areas.
A police spokesman said there were ‘‘no significant issues or incidents’’ at New Year’s Eve celebrations in Dunedin, Queenstown and Wanaka, and said police were ‘‘generally pleased’’ with public behaviour at the events.
However, five people were arrested in Queenstown, and more than 12 others issued with infringement notices after breaching the liquor ban, Sergeant Keith Newell, of Queenstown, said.
Four others — two people each in both Wanaka and Dun edin — were arrested for ‘‘disorder offences’’, police said.
Police say there were no significant problems or incidents reported at the main New Year’s Eve celebrations around the country.
RNZ reported that officers largely dealt with minor disorder incidents, liquor ban breaches and intoxication.
Police said large crowds at the Rhythm and Vines music festival in Gisborne were wellbehaved, with no arrests.
But in Gisborne itself, four people were arrested for disorderly offending.
Despite large crowds, no major problems were reported at celebrations in Mt Maunganui, near Tauranga.
In Nelson, 18 people were arrested for drunk and disorderly behaviour.
Police said they were generally pleased with the behaviour of people who went out to welcome in the New Year.