Wānaka rang in 2024 with a busy and largely happy crowd on the lakefront and spectacular fireworks hosted by Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC).

Wānaka police said there was some alcohol related disorder in the area, “but nothing else too major”; meanwhile illegal fireworks sparked a large bushfire above Wānaka and youth volunteers near the lakefront noted a “concerning” lack of supervision for young people.

QLDC hosted the traditional family events at the Dinosaur Park from 2pm, followed by live music and DJs, then a fireworks display at midnight.

A large contingent of Red Frogs volunteers (a group which provides positive peer presence in alcohol-fuelled environments frequented by young people) has spent the past few nights in Wānaka. 

Red Frogs NZ director Ray Thomson said there was less aggression on the streets this year than in previous years, and the ‘distraction stage’ with DJs at the Dinosaur Park (on Friday and Saturday) had been a focus for keeping young people safe.

“It draws the young people down to the space where stakeholders can focus a lot of our resources in one space,” he said.

“Generally I thought it was a really really positive initiative by QLDC.”

However there was underage drinking on the lakefront, and Ray said: “It was a little concerning to see the number of unsupervised under 16s.”

He said there was “not a lot of supervision” particularly for young people from out of town, some of whom did not have parents staying in the area.

Ray also noted an increasing trend of underage drug use.

“Twenty years ago New Year would be one of your first drinking experiences, but now it’s more likely to be drugs.”

Red Frogs had around 40 volunteers in Wānaka representing more than 15 countries, Ray said.

The group also offers an educational element, and seminars such as ‘Party Safe’ will be rolled out across the lower part of the South Island this year following a successful pilot programme.

The group also has a Facebook page with top tips for parents.

An annual debrief on how the Wānaka’s New Year’s events went will take place in February. Stakeholders included in the debrief are Red Frogs, QLDC, and police.