We survived New Year at Maitai!

Well, the week-long youth festival/New Years Eve camp is over and it has taken almost that long to fully recover from it. Despite the physical exhaustion we experienced from working 12-hour days, it was actually a lot of fun!

As I mentioned before, we worked at the check-in counter with our manager, Carol, doing everything from checking people in (checking ID and setting them up with wristbands) to answering phones, completing cash-out requests, and receiving payments for new bookings and purchases of ice and riggers (2 liter plastic bottles, to abide by the strict “no glass” policy). Andy also did some contraband and security work.

It was a high energy environment and the near-constant busyness (especially on New Years Eve) made the hours fly by. In the end, we checked in over 1,000 teenagers (most of them coming from as far as Christchurch)! As this was a designated party camp, families, children, and casual backpackers had to be turned away. Evenings consisted of drunken teenagers, loud music, and a number of security personnel roaming the grounds; the purpose of the camp being to provide a safe environment for teenagers to party, with the cooperation of police and local paramedics standing by (a "controlled chaos", as it were).

However, Andy and I have decided that teenagers and alcohol do not mix. We saw some pretty crazy things and heard of even crazier things, but since we want to keep this blog "family friendly"... what happens in Nelson stays in Nelson.

New Years Eve concert

What was hilarious was the scene at camp the next morning (New Years Day). Andy had pulled an all-nighter doing security work and woke me up at 6AM to witness the aftermath. It looked like a hurricane went through the camp. Check out the “trail of destruction”:

One of the wristbands we used for the teenagers who were only staying one night (on New Years Eve) had printed on it: “I survived New Year at Maitai.” Since I believe that this applies to the staff more than anyone else (hence the title of this post), I was tempted to keep one as a memento. But looking back, I don't think I need a band to remind me of this experience. I am certain it will be one I won't soon forget.