Omicron threatens to crash the summer festival party

Thousands enjoy the peak of summer at Soundsplash in Waikato, but, asks Chloe Blommerde, could it be the last festival of the season?

IT could be the last festival of summer, but this year’s Soundsplash festival-goers aren’t too worried if Covid-19 puts the brakes on the season early.

The handful of people spoken to on day two of the festival at Mystery Creek near Hamilton were grateful they’ve been able to enjoy summer, lockdown-free. Whereas another group were hopeful Omicron didn’t get in the way of upcoming festival plans.

While Delta remains the dominant variant worldwide, Omicron is spreading rapidly. The Government announced that New Zealand would move to red in the traffic light system in the event of a community outbreak of Omicron. Yesterday a second Auckland Airport worker was confirmed to have the Omicron variant, as well as a person in Palmerston North who’d recently left MIQ.

Sophie Summerville from Tauranga said it was ‘‘very possible’’ this was her last festival for summer, but that was OK with her.

‘‘I’ve been to heaps of parties, it’s been awesome. Covid hasn’t affected our summer,’’ Summerville said.

‘‘Omicron is inevitable, as long as everyone gets their boosters then hopefully it will all die down.’’

Her mum, Leigh agreed: ‘‘What a decision [by the Government] to let us go and enjoy it.’’

Summerville has a three-day pass to Soundsplash. Her mum drops her off and picks her up every day, staying at a hotel in Hamilton.

Summerville’s twin, however, decided to camp.

‘‘My friends dragged me along, but I enjoy hanging out with them. It’s the mosh pits I don’t enjoy, it’s crazy,’ Summerville said.

It’s the first time in four years the annual three-day festival has been held in Mystery Creek, after putting down roots in Raglan for the last five years.

Thousands of youth typically flock to the west coast town between January 21 and 23, and this year is no different, even under the uncertainty with Covid-19.

It was Ashton Creaser’s first festival of summer.

When asked how he feels about Omicron putting an end to his summer, Creaser said lockdowns don’t affect him too much any more.

‘‘I work at a supermarket, so life still goes on.’’

Auckland spent more than 100 days in lockdown in late 2021, and for the 18-year-old it’s become ‘‘almost normal’’.

Creaser admits it would ‘‘be pretty s...’’ if Omicron got out, but he’s had plenty of time to enjoy summer.

Just as Creaser was leaving, heading back to Auckland for work, another group were arriving.

Dan Cameron, Jacob Molloy and Jason Stanley said it was the perfect place for ‘‘good vibes, the boys and to meet girls’’.

Stanley, 16, from Hamilton, was hopeful the new variant didn’t put a damper on his Festival One plans in Kara¯ piro next weekend.

The Government ‘‘just needs to shut off the road to Palmy [Palmerston North], lock down the area,’’ he said.

Seventy-six people have been identified as contacts of the person who tested positive for Omicron in Palmerston North on Wednesday.

Soundsplash organisers opted for the bigger location at

Mystery Creek late last year, due to ‘‘spatial requirements’’.

The event venue covers 114 hectares and allows Soundsplash to have plenty of extra space, but the move doesn’t mean the event was any bigger, event manager Brian Ruawai previously said.

Open to ages 16 and above, the festival normally sees around 8000 youth either camp or book accommodation nearby.