The bright green wristband is part of the compulsory dress code in the "overflow" area of the camping ground as an instantly recognisable means of showing campers had paid their $50 bond and were legitimate residents over the notoriously rowdy New Year holiday period.
The overflow area was set aside each year to accommodate younger campers separately from older visitors, family groups and tourists.
A veteran of 15 New Year's Eves as manager of the holiday park, Mr Hartshorne said he introduced the bangle-bond system about 10 years ago as a way of preventing the sort of behaviour typical of young campers when he first started in the job.
"In the bad old days, they'd be passing out by now. It was like a blood bath [at New Year]. I used to go in and get patched up and go out again," he said yesterday afternoon.
Instead, yesterday, the campers in the temporary overflow area, aged mostly between 18 and the mid-30s, were sitting around enjoying a few beers.
Among them was a group of young men from Timaru, aged 18 and 19, who said they were there until New Year's Day and had come for the "babes and birds" in Queenstown.
They were all sporting the green bond-band and were on their best behaviour, especially when promised an ice cream if they picked up the empties around their camp.
"The days of having big burly guards on duty are gone. It's all about talking to people, security staff in uniform and all acting in a professional manner," Mr Hart-shorne said.
"And if they lose the bangle, they have to pay $50 again. It's their receipt."
It also sorted out the unregistered guests Mr Hartshorne expected would be turning up at the camping ground tonight for the New Year revelry.
By tonight, 12 security staff and Mr Hartshorne will be out among the campers to ensure no-one causes trouble and loses their bangle-bond.
"People say we're tough, but we're fair. We take no prisoners. Anyone who gets involved in violence, we call the police in and we prosecute."
