3 February, 2026

Fingers crossed weather comes to Sunsetter party

Dance with the elements… Sunsetter in Devonport last summer

Sunsetter Festival promoter Adam Bennett is nervously scanning weather forecasts, hoping for a fine day on Saturday for the 2500-plus people with tickets to the sold-out music event on Windsor Reserve.
His concern reflects a summer which on fine days has seen Devonport brimming with visitors, while the worst of the weather has at times reduced numbers.
Retailers and hospitality venues have generally reported good summer trade. The return of cruise ships and domestic visitors has been a welcome boost, says Devonport Business Association (DBA) manager Tabitha Coleman. “The start of the year has been a healthy period and much needed after last year.”
But she admits on the worst rainy days the main street empties, so fingers are crossed for fine days ahead.
Stone Oven owner Brendan Kyle said it had been well worth having the cafe open over the peak holiday period. But predicting tourist patronage day to day was tricky.
Last weekend, the family friendly Summer Days Festival put on by the Takapuna Business Association to draw visitors to Takapuna had to be postponed until Sunday 1 February.
Sunsetter is able to shift from this Saturday 31 January to Sunday but will do so only in the case of extreme weather.
To capitalise on the influx of dance music fans, the DBA says some local hospitality businesses have planned pre- and after-party events, to keep people in the village longer. A study will be done to track the extent of transactions on the day.
Bennett, a Hauraki resident, has some local eateries as food vendors inside his R20 site.
He says his Waiheke festival at New Year was a success, but the smaller Devonport venue makes for a more marginal proposition. As a local he is keen to help re-energise the area. Last year he was able to give back with grants to the Devonport Community House and some schools.
Coleman says further promoting Devonport to visitors is a key focus this year, with work underway on rebranding and promotion.