A police spokeswoman said Gisborne/Tairāwhiti saw no significant issues over New Year’s Eve, with police successfully preventing planned large gatherings by antisocial road users, and no issues reported at R&V.
Fireworks at the festival could be heard several kilometres away, along with bass-heavy sets that continued into the early hours of New Year’s Day.
Fireworks went off to welcome the new year with a bang at Rhythm and Vines in Gisborne. Photo / Supplied
Pardoe was enthusiastic about playing her set in front of a mostly young crowd, who were out there on days that also included mud after heavy rain.
“Oh, just the whole bracket was fun, just looking out and seeing all those wonderful young people knee-deep in mud, having fun, enjoying it, being happy. What else could you wish for to be out there entertaining and being all a part of it?”
There was mud all around at R&V in Gisborne. Photo / Anne-Marie de Bruin
She said music was selected that they thought would be “appropriate for folk dancing with an 81-year-old on the deck”.
“You just have to get into the spirit of everything, you know. Everyone was so supportive and so encouraging. I couldn’t back out.”
SuperGrans is the official charity partner of Rhythm and Vines.
“That was important for us. We were really grateful that R&V had asked us to partner with them, so that was a huge opportunity, and we needed to make the most of it.”
The festival, in previous years, has raised $40,000 for the Gisborne Mayoral Relief Fund over two years and over $62,500 for Lifeline.
Pardoe spent time before the gig being “busy, contemplating and getting myself sussed up for the moment”, she said.
She had gone shopping in Wellington for an outfit to wear to the event with her 28-year-old grandson.
“We had fun choosing it. You know, just wanting to get into the moment, and we did once we got dressed up. Plenty of support from family and friends and strangers. It was great.”
She was grateful for the reception they had received at the event.
“Hands out to the organisers of the whole event, just amazing. The hospitality was incredible. We were treated like royalty. Just nothing was too much trouble, and you look around there and think, it’s just so good for Gisborne. Just so good.
“The spirit at this time of the year, lots of people have had a long, hard year. And so for people to come together and celebrate, the workers behind the scenes, the R&V people … So, we’re very grateful for that. But I couldn’t have done it without so much support from everyone.”