Gisborne locals say allowing music festival Rhythm and Vines to go ahead would be an open invitation for Covid-19 to arrive in Tairāwhiti.
Currently the lowest fully vaccinated region, Gisborne will be placed under red traffic light restrictions from Friday.
Unless that setting changes quickly, the country's biggest new years' party will be cancelled.
Tairāwhiti reporter Tom Kitchin has more.
Rhythm and Vines has declined to be interviewed on Morning Report.
