Queenstown could have a new music festival celebrating New Zealand music next Waitangi Day if a group of music-lovers secures resource consent for the Shotover Sunshine Music Festival.
Led by Subculture co-owner and DJ Simon Hendl, the group hopes to hold the festival from noon to midnight at Littles Rd on February 5, next year.
Mr Hendl's application says the event is a "celebration of Aotearoan music" with an unconfirmed line-up including top New Zealand acts Shapeshifter, Tiki Taane and Fat Freddy's Drop.
It would also have Queenstown and Otago acts including kapa haka performances.
"Our aim is to create a family-friendly event which celebrates and supports culture in its broadest sense, including music, food and wine. With the success of [Wanaka's] Rippon Festival we want to produce an event with some similar objectives here in Queenstown," he said.
Mr Hendl said he was part of a group of five Queenstown residents, including partner and Subculture co-owner Antonia Crowley and Bretti and Dean Lydiard, behind the festival.
The group had been organising events through Subculture for the past seven years in Queenstown including helping with the free Waitangi Reggae in the Gardens, jazzfest and a New Year's festival at Waterfall Park.
Community groups and sports clubs would be invited to provide services such as cleaning and marshalling for donations and on-site fund-raising.
Food outlets would be invited to set up stalls with a strong focus on Central Otago wines.
Children under 10 years-old would be free and there would be activities such as a bouncy castle as well as smoke- and alcohol-free areas for families.
Lake Environmental planners have asked Mr Hendl for more information on traffic management and details on noise, including the size and number of speakers planned to be used on site.
Mr Hendl has secured permission from land owner Perry Noyce and eight neighbouring residents. In his application, he also included a letter from a member of Queenstown's Maori community Leah Webster. She said the festival would be a quality celebration of Waitangi weekend for the community.
