New Year's Eve celebrations are being held around the South, as residents and tourists farewell a very different and challenging year.
Police say there is a greater number of youths in Wanaka's town centre for New Year's Eve than in previous years - and a lot of under-age drinking.
Area Response Manager Miriam Chittenden tonight described it as "prolific" and said the alcohol appeared to be supplied by parents, which continued to be very disappointing.
There had also been a lot of property damage in the popular town over the past few days, which had coincided with the arrival of a lot of visitors, she said.
Rhythm and Alps security check passengers about to board buses for tonight's festival in Cardrona. PHOTO: KERRE WATERWORTH
Queenstown Lakes District Council Deputy Mayor Calum MacLeod earlier said he had spoken to police and the picture being painted "was one of a family-friendly and fairly relaxed holiday period thus far".
Mr MacLeod said he hoped "it continued to be the case".
Traffic was at a crawl for most of today along Ardmore St from McDougall St to the roundabout at Lakeside Rd.
From early morning and for much of the day there were no free car parks anywhere along the lake-front; some drivers ignored signs not to park on the grass while others double parked.
The forecast rain did not arrive and hundreds escaped the heat by sheltering under the trees and having a dip in the lake.
QUEENSTOWN IN PARTY MODE
The music got louder, the crowds thicker and levels of sobriety lower as the countdown to New Year's Eve continued in Queenstown.
The crowd was less jammed on the waterfront than previous years, presumably because of Covid-19, but nonetheless thousands of people saw in the New Year in downtown Queenstown with live music, bar hopping and finally, a momentous fireworks display launched on the stroke of midnight from barges in Queenstown Bay.
A liquor ban on the waterfront was being enforced in a relaxed manner by police and security staff.
The showers stayed away and central Queenstown earlier basked in a golden evening.
There was live music at Earnslaw Park from 7.30pm, while DJs performed on a second stage at the other end of the waterfront from 9pm.
Families with children mingled with groups of young people ready for a big night out in downtown bars and clubs.
FIREWORKS TREAT FOR TE ANAU
The crowd was bustling at Te Anau’s Lions Park as New Year's Eve revellers got ready to start the countdown to 2021.
Hundreds of people congregated in the park to dance to live music at the New Year Party and Fireworks in the Park event in Fiordland.
Fiordland Rotary Club New Years Eve coordinator Shayne Mercer said organisers’ main hope was for attendees to walk away from the evening with “a feel-good feeling’’.
From carnival rides to live music and a giant bonfire, there was no shortage of things to enjoy.
It was also a chance to try and put the stress of Covid-19 behind them after a challenging year for the popular tourist location.
“Last year’s event was the best numbers we had ever seen - but it will be interesting to know how many domestic tourists we had here this year.’’
The turnout had been “fantastic’’ as holiday crowds flooded in to see out 2020 when the clock struck 12am.
PARTY AT HARBOUR IN OAMARU
Party at the Harbour lived up to its name in Oamaru this New Year's Eve, as locals and tourists alike got together for a good time.
Although the weather was overcast with a slight wind, the circus busking duo Mullet an and Mim warmed up the crowd.
By 10pm, an estimated 700 people had flooded in as the clouds cleared away.
Music by local band Johnny and the Cashtones bounced off the surrounding white stone buildings, as teens trickled away to avoid watching their parents dance.
Mullet Man continued to entertain enthusiastic children, who were all up well past their bedtimes.
It's the second year the council has held Party at the Harbour, with plans to make it an annual event.
- Reporting by Kerre Waterworth, Guy Williams, Abbey Palmer and Ruby Heyward
