The Longline Classic has fast become a highlight on the regional events calendar, attracting locals and visitors from all over Aotearoa to enjoy the unofficial start to summer in Tairāwhiti.
The event was founded by Gisborne locals and friends James Bristow and Kurt Barker, who worked together for major festivals like Bay Dreams and One Love.
Just before the first lockdown in 2020, the pair quit their jobs and turned their sights to creating an event in their hometown.
“We would always come home for labour weekend, and a lot of our friends from uni would come and stay with us to go to Wine and Food, and that was always something at the back of our minds,” James said.
“When we finally quit our jobs and mustered up the courage to do something ourselves, the timing was just right.”
Family friend Guy Rutledge showed them the Gisborne racecourse and gave them the push and confidence to host an event there.
“Then Covid happened, and we went into lockdown. We didn’t have anything else to do, so we put all our eggs in one basket and started planning Longline,” says Kurt.
The first Longline Classic in 2020 was a hit, selling out 3000 tickets within a few weeks of launching. Following the first year’s success, capacity was increased to 4500 for the 2021 event, which also quickly sold out.
Unfortunately, Covid restrictions and lockdowns had ramped up again, and with changing rules for holding events at the time, James and Kurt had no choice but to cancel.
The 2022 event went ahead seamlessly at the racecourse, with headliners Fat Freddy’s Drop and other homegrown artists performing to Longline’s biggest crowd of 5000. However, with more than half of those tickets carried over from the previous year’s event, revenue was significantly down.
Committed to continuing with Longline despite the challenges, the organisers approached the Trust’s tourism team to see what support was available.
The event met all the criteria for the Regional Events Fund, designed to attract and support events that promote Tairāwhiti as a visitor destination.
“Longline has been incredibly successful at attracting visitors from outside the region while also providing the local community with a quality, well-managed event,” said Regional Destination Manager Holly Hatzilamprou.
“The organisers have built strong relationships within the community, like working with the Gisborne Boy’s High School students to create artwork for the venue. They also prioritise local procurement.
“As the Regional Tourism Organisation, we need to support successful visitor attracting events so they remain sustainable for the long-term.”
The Trust supported Longline with $74,000 from the Regional Events Fund for marketing initiatives, eco-friendly waste management services, and buses.
Ticket sales are tracking well for the 2024 event, and James and Kurt say they’re looking forward to showcasing the best of Gisborne again this labour weekend.
“Hopefully, the sun will be out, and visitors will get to see Gisborne for what it is. For us, it’s not just about selling the festival but also promoting Tairāwhiti and attracting people here.”
