Police plan to have a major presence at a Lake Ohau Waitangi weekend festival expected to attract up to 5000 young people.
But Oamaru police commander Senior Sergeant Kevin Hooper is hoping they will not be needed.
About 20 extra police are being brought in for the festival and to patrol state highways leading to it.
The AREA9 (Aotearoa Rock Extreme Adventure) 48-hour festival starts at noon on Waitangi Day and ends at midday on Sunday, February 8.
The festival features top New Zealand bands and performers, along with other activities to keep people entertained.
Tickets for the event cost $200, and Snr Sgt Hooper hopes that will deter any bad behaviour.
Police have liaised with festival organiser, Mission Controlled Events Management Ltd, which will also be providing on-site security.
Extra police from Dunedin, Alexandra and Oamaru would be at the festival for the whole 48 hours of the concert, working in shifts.
"It is a significant investment of resources but, because this is the first, we don't know how it will go," he said.
Snr Sgt Hooper said he was impressed with the organisation of the event and the experience of the promoters, who had liaised with organisations in the area.
He hoped the role of the police would be "low profile, to observe and be in the background".
