The upcoming Rhythm and Vines music festival has been postponed from New Year's Eve to Easter 2022 due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
The event was scheduled to take place from December 28-31, but is now planned to happen April 15-17 next year.
Anyone who has obtained tickets to the festival who can't make the new dates or doesn't want to wait is being offered a full refund if they ask for it before 5pm on December 16.
The festival's organisers say they decided to postpone after consulting with Tairāwhiti Iwi, Tairāwhiti DHB, local councils and members of Parliament after the announcement the Gisborne region will remain at the 'red' setting of the COVID-19 traffic light system until at least December 13.
"Rhythm and Vines' mission has and always will be a safe and secure festival for all involved, and [we believe] this decision will allow us to keep delivering the best festival experience that over 400,000 young Kiwis have enjoyed since 2003," they said in a statement.
"Getting vaccinated is how we can return to the shows and festivals we love and we encourage everyone to #vaxforlive."
Gisborne is remaining at 'red' due to it having a lower COVID-19 vaccination rate than much of the country. At its current rate, the region is still more than five weeks away from hitting 90 percent of the eligible population being double-dosed.
Earlier this month, thousands of people signed a petition calling for the festival to be cancelled this year to protect Gisborne's people from COVID-19.
The Easter 2022 Rhythm and Vines festival will take place at the usual Waiohika Estate, with camping available from the night of April 14.
