Booming bass upsets Kumeu families

May 18, 2022

Booming bass upsets Kumeu families

NEW ZEALAND SPIRIT FESTIVAL TOOK PLACE AT THE KUMEU SHOWGROUNDS FROM MAY 5 TO MAY 8. PHOTO: JOEY THOMPSON

Upset locals were left sleep-deprived after heavy festival bass shook the Kumeu area for nights on end.

Families complained the continuous loud bass was “inconsiderate” to children and those who had work the next day.

Many did not realise the music was coming from the New Zealand Spirit Festival which took place at the Kumeu showgrounds from May 5 to May 8.

Huapai resident Ivan Hew believed that the sound was coming from a house nearby.

“I could hear strong bass music noises which really hurt my family's ears, I couldn’t sleep at all, and my 20-month-old son toddler was moving around his bed, and we could see him struggling to sleep,” he says.

The strong bass took place until around 11.00pm each night, Hew says.

SPIRIT NZ’s last set did not finish until 11.30pm each night, with music only required to stop by 1.00am. PHOTO: Susan McConnell

SPIRIT NZ’s last set did not finish until 11.30pm each night, with music only required to stop by 1.00am. PHOTO: Susan McConnell

Kumeu showgrounds Show Manager Lizelle Westman says that they told the festival of their expectations regarding noise complaints.

“If noise is not down by 11.00pm, noise control can step in to shut them down,” says Westman.

“The festival organisers are responsible for any breach in the agreement.”

The festival website showed that the last set did not finish until 11.30pm each night, with music only required to stop by 1.00am.

Kumeu local Sharon Durbin says that the heavy bass could be heard from her residence over 2km away.

“To the lovely people playing music loudly on Station Road. Some of us have to go to work tomorrow. Can you please turn it down? It is a weeknight after all. If I can hear it in my house with doors and windows closed, then it is far too loud. I can't pinpoint it, but it is awful, and my man has to get up at 5 am,” she posted on Facebook.

Five formal complaints about the noise from the Spirit Festival were made, Auckland council says.

Spirit NZ did not respond to Te Waha Nui's request for comment.

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