Soundsplash
Photo: Supplied / Soundsplash
This summer, the vibrant landscape of New Zealand’s music festivals faces a curious conundrum: the notable absence of drug testing services, a vital safety net for revelers. According to the nation’s preeminent drug-checking agency, KnowYourStuffNZ, several festivals will forgo these services, raising eyebrows among attendees and organizers alike.
Since the progressive policy shift three years ago, which legalized the presence of drug testing organizations at events, one would assume that these vital services would flourish. Alas, general manager Casey Spearing reveals a sobering reality: seven anticipated festivals that previously embraced their support have turned down their offer. In an equally disheartening turn, five others, including popular gatherings like Bay Dreams and Splore, have scrapped their 2025 outings altogether.
Spearing reflects this grim trend, noting the underlying struggle in ticket sales that has compelled festival organizers to reassess their financial priorities. “A multitude of festivals are grappling with harrowing decisions regarding their budgets in a bid to remain viable this year,” she states, shedding light on the tension that has overshadowed the festival landscape.
The chatter surrounding drug checking as a fundamental health and safety imperative is palpable; many events regard it as an intrinsic cost of operation. Others, however, opt for a different path—one that doesn’t prioritize the safety of their attendees.
Despite drug checking being legal many festivals have missed out because the organisations running it do not have enough kit and capacity.
Photo: Know Your Stuff / supplied
Charging a mere 75 cents per festival attendee, KnowYourStuffNZ maintains that their service remains in high demand. They are committed to being present at AUM, Northern Bass, and Twisted Frequency this New Year, with plans to grace a total of 10 festivals between January and March—an additional 11 are awaiting confirmation.
In a twist of resourcefulness, the agency is set to conduct clinics in Mount Maunganui, Wanaka, and Queenstown ahead of New Year’s Eve in collaboration with the Rhythm and Alps festival, addressing the limitations posed by their spectrometer inventory.
Meanwhile, the NZ Drug Foundation steps in to oversee drug checking at the ever-popular Rhythm and Vines in Gisborne. A spokesperson for the festival emphasized their commitment to fostering an informed environment for festival-goers about potentially harmful substances circulating within the crowd. “Though we take every measure imaginable to thwart illegal substances from infiltrating R&V, it’s an unfortunate reality that some may still evade detection. Above all, the safety of our attendees remains our paramount concern,” the spokesperson affirmed.
