Northern Bass, Hidden Valley and Other NYE Festivals Have Been Rescheduled Until Next Year

So the only thing that got you through those long months of lockdown was the thought of seeing in 2022 sipping a Pals and boogying with your mates to Chase and Status? In another pandemic-related blow, you might have to make new plans — something with your parents, perhaps.

Two of the country's major New Year's festivals have scrambled to reschedule following Prime Minister Jacinda Arden's announcement on Monday, December 13 that Northland will remain at its current 'red' setting in the traffic light system until Friday, December 31.

This was out of an abundance of caution considering the area's low vaccination rates, the Prime Minister explained in a press conference, considering Northland has only reached 81 percent of first dose vaccination.

Two of the major victims from the announcement are Matakana-based festival Hidden Valley, which was set to go ahead on Monday, December 27 and major Mangawhai-based festival Northern Bass, which was scheduled for December 29-31.

So which new dates do you need to reschedule in your diary?

For Hidden Valley attendees, you only need to wait a couple of extra days to celebrate the New Year: festival organisers announced on Facebook it was set to go ahead on Sunday, January 2.

Meanwhile the almost 12,000-odd attendees of Northern Bass will have to make new New Years plans completely. The three-day drum and bass festival has been rescheduled until Friday, January 28, 2022.

In a statement on Facebook, Northern Bass organisers said they were "heartbroken", and the line-up of artists had been in the works since October last year.

"This has been thousands of hours of work," organisers wrote. "We know you have spent money and time planning to come and celebrate with us — we feel for you too."

They added ticket holders had three options going forward: Hold onto their tickets for the new dates, save them for NB 22/23, or obtain a refund.

They also mentioned they were attempting to pull something together at an Auckland venue for New Year's Eve itself — so watch this space.

Both postponements follow the earlier announcements that two other major New Year's festivals wouldn't be going forward. On Friday, December 3, it was announced Gisborne festival Rhythm and Vines was postponed until Easter weekend in April 2022, due to the area's low vaccination rates. Meanwhile one-day rave Bay Dreams which usually takes place in both Tauranga and Nelson, also canned both its summer festivals, citing issues getting MIQ spots for the planned line-up of international artists. It will return in 2023.

The next review of the country's traffic light system is set for the week of January 17.

Hidden Valley will take place on Sunday, January 2, while Northern Bass will take place from Friday, January 28 until Sunday, January 30. For more information, check out both festivals' respective social media pages and official websites. 

Top image: Northern Bass photographed by Joel Mcdowell