South Island New Year's music festival set to go ahead under orange light

Crowds party at a previous Rhythm and Alps festival. Photo: Supplied
Crowds party at a previous Rhythm and Alps festival. Photo: Supplied
Rhythm and Alps near Wanaka - promoted as the South Island's biggest New Year's festival - will be bucking the trend for large events and going ahead.

Events around New Zealand, such as the popular Rhythm and Vines in Gisborne, have either been cancelled or postponed due to difficulties in checking vaccine certificates.

However, organisers of the three-day music and camping festival at Cardrona Valley said they had found a way.

Each attendee will be required to upload their vaccine passport to their ticketing account before entering the festival grounds, festival organiser Alex Turnbull said.

Staff checking tickets at the gate would be able to see straight away if the person had both their vaccinations.

"It's a really safe measure to ensure we run a safe event, so there is ID and vaccine passports associated with entry," Turnbull said.

Organisers were confident that with Queenstown and Wanaka sitting at 95 per cent double vaccinated, they would be able to put on a safe party for the 10,000 expected to attend.

Some 40 per cent of attendees come from outside the region, which will provide a boost to the local economy, organisers said.