Grieving dad welcomes end of R&V era in Gisborne

A Rotorua father grieving the death of his daughter in January 2024 has welcomed news that the Rhythm & Vines music festival is moving away from Gisborne.

Jade Richards, 18, was killed in a crash on her way home from the festival.

The driver, her friend Jasmine Donaldson, was last year found guilty of careless driving causing death.

Donaldson was found to have had a shortage of sleep over the four-day festival before making a “flawed decision” to drive home on what a judge described as some of the country’s “worst” roads.

Jade’s father, Mark Richards, told the Rotorua Daily Post this week that he was pleased parents could soon stop worrying whether their children would make it home alive from Gisborne.

Rhythm & Vines organisers announced this week that this year’s New Year festival would be the final edition held at Waiohika Estate in Gisborne after 24 years.

The 2027-28 event will be at an as-yet-undisclosed location.

Rhythm & Vines Festival chief executive Kieran Spillane told the Gisborne Herald the decision had not been an easy one, but accessibility and Gisborne’s remote location had been a factor.

“We have to adapt to how the festival culture is changing by moving somewhere that’s more accessible and will allow us more capacity and the ability to scale up.”

Jade died at Ruato Bay on State Highway 30, just 20km from her Rotorua home, after spending four nights partying at the festival.

She was asleep in the back seat at the time of the crash. Donaldson was the driver and a third friend was in the front passenger seat.

Jade Richards, 18, died after the vehicle she was in rolled on SH30 on New Year's Day 2024.

The car moved out of its lane, struck a rock wall and flipped.

Donaldson was charged with careless driving causing death, which she defended at trial, claiming the crash was the result of sunstrike and, at the same time, that an oncoming vehicle frightened her.

However, Judge John Bergseng found her guilty, finding there were signs of fatigue, and describing the decision to drive as “flawed” and one that led to “tragic consequences”.

Donaldson, who was 20 at the time of the trial, was discharged without conviction and was given a 10-month driving disqualification, was ordered to do a defensive driving course within four months, and was ordered to pay $10,000 in emotional harm reparation.

Judge Bergseng said when delivering his judge-alone trial decision last year that evidence suggested the three Rotorua teens, who slept in tents at the festival, were together on New Year’s Day until about 2am, when they became separated.

The case examined the hours of sleep that Donaldson would have had over the four days. They left Gisborne for Rotorua about 10.30am on New Year’s Day.

Mark Richards reiterated this week that Gisborne was not the place for a four-day music festival.

He said the new location should be one to which concertgoers could fly easily, or at the very least be near well-populated cities. He said this would minimise the risk of hundreds of drivers travelling home fatigued.

Jade would have celebrated her 21st birthday on July 15. Her father’s voice broke when he said her death “never gets any easier”.

The family took time off on her birthday to be together and remember her.

“It just shouldn’t have been like that. Moving the festival is definitely a move in the right direction for future families so they don’t have to go through this trauma.”

Festival organisers were approached this week for comment and response.

A spokesperson said last year that the festival grounds had stayed open long after the show so attendees could rest before heading out.

Could it come to Rotorua?

RotoruaNZ chief executive Andrew Wilson said the organisation found out only on Tuesday that Rhythm & Vines was moving, so no discussions had taken place with event organisers.

“Our focus is on continuing to grow Rotorua’s summer events offering, including new events such as the 8th Wonder Festival in January.”

Wilson said he would not rule out discussions on hosting new events.

“Rotorua has a strong reputation for hosting large-scale events, with the advantage of a central location, diverse visitor experiences, and a wide range of accommodation options that support major events and their audiences.”

Kelly Makiha is a senior journalist who has reported for the Rotorua Daily Post for more than 25 years, covering mainly police, court, human interest and social issues.