RAGGAMUFFIN is back, and is bigger and better in 09 with nine great bands and over ten hours of music, as well as a huge new café/bar, kid’s zone and village market area with trees to picnic under and plenty of free activities offering loads more family fun.

Here are some pointers for the big day: -

What to bring:  Sunscreen, sun-hat, blanket, ID for those over 18, smiles and good vibes!

What not to bring:  Glass, cans, alcohol, chilly bins, umbrellas, deck chairs, professional cameras, weapons or anything that could be used as such, illegal substances, gang patches or colours.  Please note that there will be bag searches before entering the stadium.  No pass-outs will be issued and no smoking is allowed in the seated areas or grandstand.

Food and drinks:  A whole range of tasty foods will be available to purchase on the day.  Small quantities of unopened/sealed drinks and non-commercial food such as sandwiches and fruit will be allowed into the stadium and there will be free water top-ups, so bring an empty water bottle or purchase a bottle of eco friendly Good Water.

Bars:
The venue caterers - http://www.compass-group.co.nz/ - are in charge of the bars and food outlets and are required to wristband anyone over 18 years of age wishing to purchase alcohol or enter the bar area.  Wristbands will be available outside the venue before the gates open and also at six convenient ID outlets inside the venue.

The bars will operate with vouchers only - no cash.  Water and other non-alcoholic drinks will be available at other outlets around the venue for cash.  The bar will only serve up to 4 drinks per transaction. Vouchers will cost $5 each and can be purchased separately or in books of 4 ($20 value).  They can only be used at the bar not at the food outlets.  The vouchers are non-redeemable after the bar closes and the bar will close at the start of the evening’s final act.

Children: 
Children must be accompanied by a parent or care-giver at all times.  There will be a fun kid’s zone complete with a face painter, a bouncy castle and other fun activities, for children to hang out and go crazy in until 5pm .  Whilst there will be security in this area we cannot accept responsibility for unaccompanied children.  If you do get separated from your child there will be a lost children and items area in the media tower on the main field… which is also where the police will be based.  

Approx show running times: 
The Raggamuffin Village area will open at 10am and can be accessed from the main gate and gate 3 only.   The gates into the stadium and the bars open at 11 am with the first band starting at 12 noon and the official finish is at 10.45 pm .  The (subject to change) running order for bands will be emailed to our Raggamuffin Subscribers (to join please see www.raggamuffin.co.nz) the week of the show and will appear on the website the day before the show. 

Talent: 
In the breaks between bands DJ Dubhead - www.myspace.com/djdubhead - will work his magic on the turntables alongside radio Mai FM MCs Brent Mio and Sonny Kahika.  
Strutting their stuff will be buskers performing in the village and market area by the bar - (program still TBA – see www.raggamuffin.co.nz for more details).   

Accommodation:
For accommodation options please contact Tourism Rotorua - tourism.counter@rdc.govt.nz

Transport and Gate Entry:
Free buses will be operating for ticket holders - see www.raggamuffin.co.nz for information on bus routes.  The free bus stops directly outside the main gate, which is a ticket holder’s entrance.   If tickets haven’t sold out prior to show day there will be ticket sales at gate 2 and 3. 

Public Parking:  The venue has organized parking which will be available at Westbrook Rugby Fields Car-parks for $10 via Malfroy St & Devon St.  There will also be a $5 Park and Ride option at Ngongataha Domain with regular bus shuttles to the venue.

ABOUT THE VENUE
The Rotorua International Stadium is a prime venue for an outdoor concert like Raggamuffin.  The venue has hosted several major events such as Air NZ Cup Rugby, Super 14 Rugby, National League Football, International Softball, a UB40 Concert and A Night with a Dame Concert with Kiri. The most recent maximum capacity event was the 2005 Lions Rugby Tour where 32,000 spectators enjoyed the atmosphere and facilities that the venue has to offer. 

The Stadium includes both covered grandstand seating, terraced seating and open seating on the grass banks.  Within the venue there are also a variety of food and beverage options and corporate lounges with prime viewing of the main attraction, craft markets and merchandise stores for your entertainment and convenience. 

Situated on Devon Street, southwest of the city off Old Taupo Rd, the venue is a short bus trip from the centre of the city.  Rotorua will be providing a free bus service from major city points: the Village Green, Central Mall Carpark and the Four Canoes Hotel (Fenton Street).  At each of these locations there will be ample free public parking and your Raggamuffin ticket will get you free bus transfers to and from the venue.  At the venue there will be parking available at $5 per vehicle.  A map of the bus route will be available on the website shortly.

ABOUT ROTORUA
The heartland of New Zealand, spiritual home to the Maori, nature's spa of the South Pacific, host to some of the world’s most incredible earth forces, adventure and activity mecca - Rotorua boasts an array of iconic experiences that together encapsulate the spirit of this remarkable country.

Our welcome to you is ‘Rotorua – feel the spirit – Manaakitanga’ which encompasses it all; our cultural diversity, stunning natural environment, awe-inspiring earth forces, sense of adventure, our people, and the spirit of a progressive community.

Manaakitanga is a deep-rooted concept in Maori culture. It is a challenge, a responsibility on us as your host to give you the very best of ourselves. It is also your invitation to experience the essence of this extraordinary slice of New Zealand – by day and by night.

Picturesque cobbled streets, beautifully laid-out gardens (Rotorua was voted New Zealand’s Most Beautiful City in 1999, 2000, 2002 and 2006) and striking Tudor architecture celebrate our colonial past, while an impressive array of cafes, restaurants, bars and clubs embrace our contemporary lifestyle.

Rotorua has a proud tradition of hosting guests from all over the world. We have an abundance of accommodation ranging from impressive hotels and exclusive lodges to friendly motels and backpacker hostels. In between there are holiday parks, bed and breakfast establishments plus home, farm and marae stays. Together they offer more than 13,000 beds so, aside from peak periods, visitors are almost always guaranteed a bed in Rotorua.

Numerous sporting, cultural, corporate and leisure events add a further dimension to our multi-faceted city every day of the year. Go to www.rotoruaNZ.com/events to check out what’s on.  

STALLS
If you would like to have a stall at Raggamuffin2009, please send an email to Stuart at raggamuffinstalls@gmail.com

CONDITIONS OF ENTRY
Download a Conditions of Entry info sheet here (adobe acrobat pdf)