The year everyone cannot wait for – 2021 – looms and Southlanders are preparing to celebrate, albeit with eyes wide open to the challenges still ahead.

The spectre of Covid-19 lingers, with big summer music festivals under close scrutiny.

All eyes are on Australia, the United States and Britain too, in case Covid-19 and its mutant cousins pop our hopes for a Trans-Tasman or Pacific Island bubble that could allow people to begin travelling in the autumn.

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And although New Zealand bounced out of its first Covid-19 recession in September, there has been talk of another damaging hit to the economy in March, though Westpac predicts “not as severely as originally feared”. (See Westpac’s November 2020 quarterly report).

The potential loss of Rio Tinto’s aluminium smelter at Tiwai Point and the “will they-won’t they stay just a little bit longer” debate will continue to test the resilience of Southlanders in 2021.

For now, we must be content with a Southland horizon – which to be fair, is still pretty expansive and rather beautiful, especially if you are on top of a Fiordland mountain or Bluff Hill on a sunny day.

Here a few ways we can all live in the moment, ring in 2021 and give thanks for a brand new year of hope and potential. 

Southland in all its glory . . . Lake Te Anau and the Murchison Mountains. PHOTO: DOC/Crystal Brindle

Wednesday December 30

Bass Camp New Year Festival, Camp Taringatura, 795 South Hillend Dipton. Two days of music, workshops and fire performers, 1pm start.

Thursday December 31

New Year’s Eve Rotary Party in the Park, Lions Park, Te Anau, 9pm – 12am. Family fun with music, food, bonfire and fireworks.

The Bass Camp festival continues at Dipton.

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Friday January 1

Rivatalise Music Festival, Mangapiri Downs Organic Stud Farm, 2576 Clifden-Blackmount Road, Western Southland. Two days of family fun and music by Paul Ubana Jones, Craig Smith and others.

Riverton Races. Thoroughbred racing at Riverton Race Course.

Tuatapere Sports Day. Family fun day at the Tuatapere Domain, 10am start. The Southern Axemen’s Christmas Circuit event starts at 9am.

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Saturday January 2

The Revitalise Music Festival continues at Blackmount.

Curio Bay Big Dig. A family fun day in the Catlins begins at Curio Bay at 11am.

Summer Farmers Market. Invercargill’s Ascot Race Raceway hosts the summer market from 9.30am to 1.30pm. It offers fresh produce, artisan products and an international food court.

For more details on these and many other New Year and summer holiday events in Southland, go to the Advocate South’s “Summer in the South 2020-2021” magazine, available in print or on the Southland App website HERE.