Organisers of the Splore music and arts festival say it "feels very special" to be welcoming around 10,000 people through its gates at Auckland's Tapapakanga Regional Park.
The three-day event, which began on Thursday and runs until Sunday, is a mix of music, arts and discussion of current affairs.
Despite Auckland's poor weather, the festival has been built over the past seven days, with paddocks being transformed into five stages.
Festival director John Minty says they're not expecting Friday's rain to dampen spirits.
"We are expecting plenty of sunshine and if anything, a little rain suppresses the dust on the gravel roads. We are expecting the rain to pass and for glorious sunshine on both Saturday and Sunday," he said.
"After a tough three years in events, we have the welcome mat out."
"It feels very special to be able to bring together people again to help raise spirits. We’ve been overwhelmed by the enthusiasm of the attendees that are arriving," he told Newshub.
Minty also said there had been some who had sought refunds after the recent devastation caused by Cyclone Gabrielle and they were looking at each case individually.
"We are very sympathetic to people who have suffered from the cyclone and we will be reviewing each case for a refund if their tickets are not able to be sold on tixel.co.nz."
It's not just music the family-friendly festival is offering - attendees can take part in a yoga class and massage at Wendy’s Wellness. Tapapakanga iwi will also be on site, with a dedicated zone to tell their stories, perform cultural activities like mirimiri massage and foster an understanding of Te Ao Maori with the Splore audience.
The festival has also offered a live stream of selected acts for those who can't attend or have had to change plans due to the impact of the cyclone.
The livestream is hosted for free and with no login on Splore’s website. It begins on Saturday at 9pm with Ladi6 and concludes 2:30pm on Sunday, showcasing Splore's cabaret show as well as performances from Theia, Troy Kingi and Don McGlashan.
Minty says his highlight will be the "specially curated set by Drax Project on Friday night on the Main Stage".
