MEDIA RELEASE | NZHERALD ARTICLE HERE

The results are in, Rhythm & Vines has once again proven to be a major economic driver for the Tairāwhiti region. An economic impact survey released today shows that the festival not only drew tens of thousands of attendees, but also delivered substantial positive financial impact to local businesses and the wider community.

The survey has revealed that visitor expenditure for Rhythm and Vines 2024 reached $5.72 million, up from $2.88 million in the last comparable survey in 2018. This figure includes spending across accommodation, hospitality, retail, and local attractions, with the influx of visitors from outside the region increasing their average spend by 73% in the region from 2018 creating a vibrant boost to the summer economy. 

Rhythm and Vines 2024 added 4.24 million dollars to the region’s GDP, a clear increase from $3.22 million in 2018. This figure reflects the festival’s ongoing evolution and increasing contribution to the Tairawhiti Gisborne community. The estimated net economic benefit to the region from this year’s event was $3.71 million, demonstrating a strong return on investment for the host region.

Rhythm & Vines 2024 attracted over 28,000 attendees (Counting each person only once, even if they attended on more than one day) with 85% or over 24,000 of these visitors from outside the region and representing over 93,000 visitor nights, underlining the festival's reputation as an iconic destination New Years Eve event. 2% of the total attendees at this year's event had traveled from overseas to attend the festival. 

‍“As the Regional Tourism Organisation, Trust Tairāwhiti see events as powerful catalysts for regional growth,” says Holly Hatzilamprou, Regional Destination Manager, Trust Tairāwhiti. “Major events like R&V create a ripple effect across the local economy—supporting hospitality, accommodation, retailers, and transport providers. They also stimulate seasonal job creation and position Gisborne as a vibrant and welcoming host city. We are pleased also to see 13% of festivalgoers are residents, underscoring the strong community connection and sense of pride the event continues to inspire.”

The festival’s commitment to supporting the local economy was also evident in its procurement choices with 30% of the total event budget spent locally in Tairawhiti. From production and catering to accommodation and transport, this local spend represents a meaningful reinvestment in the local community. In addition to this, the 2024 festival employed 900 direct local employees and provided fundraising opportunities for a number of non profit organisations including Gisborne Thistle AFC and Lytton High School.  

The festival continues to work closely and is appreciative of the ongoing partnership with Te Aitanga A Mahaki and landowners Mangatu, as well as recently announcing that future fundraising initiatives will be focussed on their newly forged charity partnership with Super Grans. Additional fundraising initiatives include the COMP BY DONATION initiative, which transformed over 700 complimentary tickets into charitable donations and the CLUB GISBORNE initiative which sees $5 contributed to the charity for every ticket sold via the platform, with up to 2,000 discounted tickets available for Gisborne locals.

Festival Director Kieran Spillane says “We are really proud to see these figures supporting our mission to give back to the Gisborne region. Beyond the music, it’s about jobs, tourism, and community pride and we are grateful to the region for continuing to support this uniquely Kiwi celebration.”

A dedicated survey of over 130 local businesses was also conducted with findings showing that 80% of respondents agreed Rhythm & Vines has a positive impact on the region. Increased foot traffic, greater exposure, and a surge in seasonal sales were just some of the benefits cited by respondents. 

Rob Maruszewski, manager of Captain Cook Motor Lodge summed up the positive impact of the festival on the local accommodation sector: “Captain Cook Motor Lodge has proudly supported Rhythm and Vines for many years as an accommodation partner. The festival brings a real buzz to Gisborne. The town comes alive with both visitors and contractors, and it’s amazing to see. R&V doesn’t just drive bookings during the festival itself, but also well before and after, with their crew staying during the setup and clean-up phases. We love hosting the hardworking team that brings this event to life and are proud to play even a small role in its success. The positive impact it has on the local economy, community spirit, and summer atmosphere is something we truly value every year.”‍

Rhythm and Vines 2025 will be held at Waiohika Estate from Dec 29th - 31st 2025. Tickets are on sale now from www.rhythmandvines.co.nz .

For more information please contact: 

Chris Henry // 818

chris@818.co.nz

+64 21 670 604

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