3 Nov 2015

Great New Zealand Concerts - Nambassa

From Afternoons, 2:22 pm on 3 November 2015

The great New Zealand concert takes a different shape this week, instead of just one, we reflect on a series of festivals from the late 70s and early 80s.

Known as Nambassa, the festival ran over a number of days in 1978, 1979 and 1981, in and around Waihi.

Looking out from the main stage in 1979. Image courtesy of Peter Terry & Nambassa Trust.

Living Force playing in 1978. Image courtesy of Peter Terry & Nambassa Trust.

Peter Terry in Melbourne in 1978. Image courtesy of Peter Terry & Nambassa Trust.

Schtung on the main stage in 1979. Image courtesy of Peter Terry & Nambassa Trust.

Midge Marsden with Andy Anderson and Beaver on the main stage in 1978. Image courtesy of Peter Terry & Nambassa Trust.

Sam Fords Verandah Band in 1979. Image courtesy of Peter Terry & Nambassa Trust.

Nambassa Festival 1978. Image courtesy of Peter Terry & Nambassa Trust.

Dizzy Gillespie on Redhat stage at Nambassa in 1981. Image courtesy of Peter Terry & Nambassa Trust.

Eddie Rayner in 1979. Image courtesy of Peter Terry & Nambassa Trust.

Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee in 1981. Image courtesy of Peter Terry & Nambassa Trust.

Golden Harvest on the main stage in 1979. Image courtesy of Peter Terry & Nambassa Trust.

Australian aboriginal dancers in 1981. Image courtesy of Peter Terry & Nambassa Trust.

Camping mobile homes in 1981. Image courtesy of Peter Terry & Nambassa Trust.

Topp Twins on the Redhat stage in 1981. Image courtesy of Peter Terry & Nambassa Trust.

Split Enz playing in 1979. Photo by Susanna Burton. Image courtesy of Peter Terry & Nambassa Trust.

The 1978 Main Stage. Image courtesy of Peter Terry & Nambassa Trust.

Living Force in 1978. Image courtesy of Peter Terry & Nambassa Trust.

Little River Band playing in 1979. Image courtesy of Peter Terry & Nambassa Trust.

A health workshop at Nambassa in 1978. Image courtesy of Peter Terry & Nambassa Trust.

John Mayal on Redhat stage at Nambassa in1981. Image courtesy of Peter Terry & Nambassa Trust.

Little River Band playing in 1979. Image courtesy of Peter Terry & Nambassa Trust.

The festival joins for World Peace in 1981. Image courtesy of Peter Terry & Nambassa Trust.

Its focus was on peace, love and harmony and has been described as New Zealand's Woodstock.

It attracted a range of local and international musical acts.

It all seemed like peace and love, but it wasn't. In 1981 the show was plagued by bad weather and people being swept downstream after a bridge collapsed. It was also scheduled on the same day as that year's Sweetwaters festival.

Nambassa founder Peter Terry went bankrupt after the 1981 festival fell flat.

Musicians, thinkers, filmmakers and talk to Jesse Muligan about Nambassa and its legacy.