Vision
(a New Year’s Eve Festival With a Difference)
Vision is a celebration of music, art, ideas and fun. It happens where the land meets the sea - at the base of Farewell
Spit, Golden Bay, Aotearoa/New Zealand – from the 30th of December 2002 until the 2nd of January 2003.
For four days and three nights, the Robinsons’ big, beautiful bush-fringed farm becomes a giant camp-ground for
families, freaks, straights, greenies, hippies, farmers, rugby players and grandparents alike. Their aim is to see in
the New Year amid some of the finest live and electronic music, perfomance and atmosphere to be found anywhere - and to
help make a difference.
Vision is organised by a Charitable Trust that aims to promote a sustainable future for this planet through the
principles of organics, permaculture and co-operation. All proceeds from the party go towards funding projects both
locally and nationally that will help achieve these aims. The Trust is run by volunteers, and is open to involvement and
input from the community.
The Festival has happened each year since New Year’s Eve 2000/2001, and has gained a solid reputation for its good vibe,
great location and wicked entertainment. Last year around 3000 people were on the site. An upper limit of 4000 tickets
will be available this year, so get in quick because they’re sure to be in hot demand. Tickets cost $80 until the 29th
of December, while gate-sales (subject to availability) will cost $95.
Here are some of the musical highlights. Check the Website – http:// http://www.visionz.org.nz - for full details.
The Downbeat Café, a mutation of last year’s ambient zone, features 20 chill experts including DJ Mayhem (Radioactive,
Wgtn), SG1 (Golden Bay legend), DJ Illusion (from the UK’s pyschedelic-chill community), and Bertrand Rathbourne
(responsible for the Gathering’s Ambient CD, and Golden Bay Records’ forthcoming downbeat compilation Fear of A Quiet
Planet). This covered area, open for the entire duration of the festival, will also provide chai, cakes, cookies, and
inexpensive meals, and will incorporate the Visionz Trust information stall. This is definitely the place to lie down
and be counted!
The Live Stage, one of the most popular areas last year, includes a diversity of acts ranging from folk to funk. Zuvuya
(Dunedin), Project (Wellington), and Tommy/ Pakeha (Wellington) all promise to provide some tasty dub-reggae tinged with
funk and jazz during the evening hours. Local heroes Landline (Golden Bay) play their distinctive progressive-indie
sound, and the legendary James Wilkinson (Christcurch) rips it up on the acoustic guitar. Others to watch include Greg
Malcom, The Valentes, Positroniks and Sanka.
Trance is the largest and most international area of the festival, using a crystal-clear 60kw EV PA that promises to
pack a sub-tropical pyschedelic punch, thanks to live, local and imported psy-trance acts. These include: DJ Pied Piper
(UK legend), Antix (Auckland, Iboga Records), Kode IV (Ceiba records, San Francisco), DJ Hari-om (Austria), Sensonika
(Chile), DJ Illusion (UK), Barton (Manta Records, Auckland), Carlos (Holland/NZ), Max Maxwell (Golden Bay Records), and
Psilo (Christchurch). To quote one of the area’s coordinators: ‘this is music that promotes a spiritual celebration of
life through the trance-state.’
Funk’n’breaks promises a refreshing alternative for those who like their dance music soulful and sexy. Including house,
drum’n’bass and breakbeat, the line-up features a stack of original producers, and includes Agent Alvin (Wellington), DJ
Simon Le Bon (Vienna), Bluey (Golden Bay), Remote (Wellington), Panoramica (Wellington), Elope (Nelson), DJs Platta and
Dunsta (Wellington), and Sense (Palmerston North). The area is inside a huge Marquee, and is the largest covered area on
the site. It will also be the centre for original big-screen visuals, thanks to a national collective of VJs,
co-ordinated by Mr J from Wellington.
Performers will be seen around the entire festival site, adding a healthy dose of theatre, circus, dance and wackiness
to the proceedings. Among the freaks, geeks and funnies will be the Invisible Circus (UK), the Flying Forest Family
(Christchurch), Arohanuiwalker Stilt Co. (Auckland), and a surrealist show by Allanraystaratt (Dunedin).
Tribal is an outdoor fire-circle for those interested in creating their own organic beats. Participants are encouraged
to bring their own drums, didges, sticks, whistles, voices and anything else that makes a noise!
Healing is an area where festival-goers can relax their minds and bodies in a quiet, safe space when everything’s
getting a bit mad. Professional healers will be employed to provide free massages, reiki, and other therapies to those
needing some gentle support.
Kids are welcome at Vision, and a safe, sheltered, space will be provided for parents to co-ordinate combined care.
Activites and a quiet sleeping area will also be provided.
As well as being able to absorb musical and visual delights, a participant at Vision will be able to join fun,
educational Workshops ranging from harakeke weaving to alternative energy. The festival also has a policy of ZeroWaste,
and we encourage everyone to help us by reducing the waste they create. Some practical ways to do this are: bring your
own cup, spoon and plate to use at cafes, use our recycling bins intelligently so that the waste-stream can be reduced,
and cut down on products that create waste through packaging. Vision aims to be more than just another music party: it’s
a conscious demonstration of our will to change the way we live.
For more information about ticket outlets, full entertainment line-ups, images, information about the Visionz Trust, and
how to get involved in the Festival, please visit us at our website: http:// http://www.visionz.org.nz