Festival Policy
The team at Rhythm and Vines is committed to running a safe and secure event for all involved. Stick to the rules below and help us to insure everyone has a fun and super safe time at the event.
Enviroment
Rhythm and Vines is respectful that one of its greatest assets is that the event is held at the unique Waiohika Estate. This world-class venue set in beautiful natural surroundings should remind us all that we must preserve and be respectful of our surroundings and our environment. R&V is endeavouring to reduce its environmental footprint and has implemented positive initiatives that it hopes will communicate our values to all involved, so they may not just think about these few days but how we should respect our environment in our everyday lives.
These positive initiatives include:
- Recycling. Last year we diverted over 66% of all solid waste produced by the festival away from landfill and into recycling. We thank everyone for contributing and using the recycling bins that helped us sort the waste. Any project like this requires an effort from all involved. Our goal this year is to improve our systems and better last year.
- Refundable deposits on wine bottles. An extra charge will be applied to all wine bottle sales and this will be returned to the customer when they return the bottles for recycling.
- Partnership with Gisborne’s Rethink Centre and Keep Gisborne Beautiful. Gisborne District Council’s Rethink Environmental Education Centre and Keep Gisborne Beautiful successfully worked with R&V to trial initiatives that may extend the current household recycling efforts into events and public places.
- R&V encourages all festival-goers to carpool and bus to Gisborne and to use local bus services to arrive to the festival to reduce the carbon footprint.
R&V also maintains strict policies and guidelines for all vendors and operators onsite. These include;
- Holding vendors responsible for the waste they generate and required to use recycle bins provided.
- A refundable bond will be payable to ensure vendors leave their site tidy
- No plastic cutlery or disposables will be permitted on site - only approved starch potato cutlery and card disposables.
- Vendors may only sell Fairtrade coffee and drinking chocolate.
- Where possible vendors are encouraged should source ingredients and supplies locally.
Filming & Photography
recording of themselves as part of the audience. CCTV will be used on site. Images will be monitored for the purposes of public safety, crowd management and crime prevention. For further information, contact: info@rhythmandvines.co.nz. If you do bring any unauthorised equipment to the festival it will be confiscated at the entrance; you will have the opportunity to store it and it will be returned to you when you leave the festival.
If you are going to film with a video camera or a mobile phone camera you need to adhere to the Festival's policy.You are free to record your own visit to the Festival for your own personal home use. You will not be able to sell on any moving images of the Festival for commercial or other gain.
Please respect the privacy of other festival goers who may not want to be filmed.
You may not record in any of the performance areas or record performers without their prior consent. This is the law.
Please do not bring tripods, any sort of lighting or any professional equipment. You must be aware of health and safety issues.
We hope that doesn't sound too formal, but we're sure you will understand that we need to protect other Festival goers, our performers and the integrity of Rhythm & Vines. But please, please enjoy yourselves!
Prohibited Drugs
Taking drugs is dangerous, anti-social and illegal. Drugs cause unpredictable behaviour which may ruin the festival experience for others. Drugs are illegal at R&V – as they are in the rest of New Zealand. If you see someone who is ill, depressed or afraid – and perhaps under the influence of drugs please contact a festival employee who will do everything they can to help the person in question.
Drug enforcement laws are as applicable on site as any where else in the country. Police officers will be on site and will deal with drug offences in accordance with national guidelines. If you deal in drugs, it is likely that you will be arrested. Neither anti-social nor illegal behaviour will be tolerated and participants will leave themselves liable for eviction from the site.
You may be searched at the entrance. Any items which the organisers consider may be used in an illegal or offensive manner will be confiscated. Persons suspected of carrying out illegal and / or offensive activities onsite may be searched.
Festival security will take an active role monitoring for drug dealing and will work in full co-operation with the Gisborne Constabulary.
When there is a strong suspicion of drug dealing, festival security will inform and assist Gisborne Constabulary in every way possible.
The Festival will evict persons strongly suspected of drug dealing and wherever possible will channel these evictions via the police compound for searching prior to eviction. The Festival will evict persons who are arrested, charged and bailed by Avon and Somerset Constabulary
Festival stewards are trained in Emergency First Aid and are fully informed about the welfare and drugs advisory facilities. They can direct individuals to Festival Medical Services – a team of St Johns doctors, paramedics and nursing staff who can treat physical and emotional problems.
Alcohol
Drunkenness is, at best, annoying and antisocial. Drug/alcohol cocktails can be lethal.
Bar staff will ask for proof of age whenever a customer appears to be under 18 – so if you think there is a chance you may be asked, best bring some photo ID. It's down to you to prove you are over 18.
Antisocial and illegal behaviour will not be tolerated: ejection, possibly by the police, without return, will be the outcome.
The festival does not allow you to bring your own alcohol or soft drinks onto the festival site. You may be searched on arrival and if you are found to be carrying drinks these will be confiscated.
All customers are advised to drink sensibly, drink plenty of water as well.
At the camping area you can buy beer and soft drinks in bottles, cans, cartons and crates. At the Festival Site, beverage stalls serve drinks in cans, we have found this method to help us keep beverages.
Festival Safety & Security
For an event as big as Rhythm and Vines it is essential to create a secure and safe environment for all – both for the guest as well as our production crew who assembles the scaffold on the Main Stage. On all areas of the festival everyone, including the audience, employees, artists and collaborators should feel themselves secure and safe for the duration of the festival. Before each festival, all our safety measures are examined and evaluated. One of our main objectives is to ensure that festivals like R&V will continue to be safe, and we closely examine all elements of the festival for their safety and closely follow both national and international developments in festival safety.
The Safety Section of R&V Festival is centralized at the emergency services office which functions as the communication hub to solve problems and issues across the event. Among other things, they have ongoing contact to the first-aid units and authorities like police and fire department.
The police and rural fire have their own staff present at the emergency response office during the days of the festival. Furthermore, the Safety Section has its own security response team to assist any team that needs additional support.
Medical & Welfare
R&V are thankful for the support of St Johns. The professionals of St Johns operate a medical centre in addition to an equipped mobile hospital on the festival site staffed with medical doctors and registered nurses. Furthermore, St Johns oversee the detoxification tent that provides support for those who are in need of rest and recovery.
The team at the medical centre also provide experienced, caring and confidential help for all kinds of practical and personal problems.
However you also play an important role. At all times you should be aware of the safety and welfare of yourself, your friends, and all at the festival. Should you see anything of concern or situations that may get out of control, please alert any R&V staff member.
Lost Property
Lost property may be found at the Coat Check. We encourage the audience and staff to hand any lost property into the coat check and lock-up where you will be required to complete found forms provided to by the Police . If you do lose some property whilst at the festival this should be your first point of call. Following the Festival the lost property will be held at our HQ where we will try to identify the owner. After one week all remaining items will be handed to the Police.
Festival Policy
