ULTRA New Zealand will be held in Wellington for the first time, with the international music festival set to take over the waterfront in April.
The one-day event is scheduled for Friday 10 April and is expected to attract around 23,000 attendees to the city.
More than half of those attending are expected to be visitors from outside Wellington, with organisers forecasting increased demand for accommodation, hospitality and transport services.
Mayor Andrew Little said the event would bring significant energy to the capital and contribute to a busy weekend of activity.
“ULTRA is a major international event that will bring thousands of people to the Capital to enjoy the best of Wellington,” he said.
The festival will feature four large-scale stages across the waterfront precinct.
Due to the scale of the event, parts of the waterfront will be closed or restricted during set-up and pack-down.
Restricted access will begin from 30 March, with partial closures in place from 7pm on Thursday 9 April through to 6pm on Saturday 11 April.
The affected area includes sections between Waitangi Park and Odlins Plaza, including Te Papa Promenade and part of Taranaki Street Wharf. Pedestrian and cyclist diversions will be in place.
Wellington City Council said waterfront businesses will remain open and residents will still be able to access the area.
Harbourside Market will be relocated to the Reading Cinema car park on Wakefield Street on Sunday 12 April.
The event coincides with a number of other major activities across the city, including ANZ Premiership netball, a National Basketball League game, the WONCA World Rural Health Conference, the National Brass Band Championships, a Hurricanes home game and Wellington Zoo’s 120th anniversary celebrations.
Council officials say the combined programme of events is expected to provide a boost to the local economy during the shoulder season.
