Millennium dance party hopes high
Organisers of New Year outdoor dance party The Gathering say they are confident of avoiding problems that have hit other millennium events.
Tickets went on sale yesterday for the event on Takaka Hill, near Nelson. Spokeswoman Alison Green said organisers had already been swamped with inquiries from as far away as Brazil, Finland, Israel and the United States.
This year's Gathering is the fourth to be held at New Year and will run for 48 hours from midday on December 31 to midday on January 2, 2000.
The event's reputation and its loyal following from previous participants meant it was unlikely to emulate the failure of Gisborne's millennium concert, Ms Green said.
Tickets, at $105, were being limited to 6,000 to keep the event intimate and to minimise its impact on the environment, she said.
The Gathering 2000 event, to be directed by the event's founder, Murray Kingi, will feature more than 120 DJs, 50 live acts (to be announced in October) and about 100 other performers such as jugglers, stilt-walkers and dancers. An on-site radio station will broadcast continuously throughout the festival.