Save Twisted

I have gone to Twisted as a festival-goer twice now (2024/2025 and 2025/2026) and I can confidently say that this festival is something you will not experience anywhere else in New Zealand. The landscape, the people, the energy and the whole 5 days is nothing like the real world - twisted creates this fantasy, utopia-like dream that makes you feel like you have found the hole from Alice in Wonderland. I think the main thing that I found that makes it different to all other festivals is the fact that the organisers are all amazing, chill and artistic people. It’s totally created by creatives, for creatives. As long as I live in Aotearoa, Twisted will be my festival of choice.

Twisted Frequency holds a special place in my heart as one of the most genuinely community-driven gatherings I’ve ever had the privilege of attending. What struck me most wasn’t just the music or the stunning environment — it was the people. There was an openness and warmth that felt rare and intentional, a space where creativity wasn’t just celebrated but woven into everything around you. You could feel how much care had gone into creating something that wasn’t just a festival, but a living, breathing community. The connections I made there, even as someone coming from far away, felt real and lasting. Twisted Frequency has a way of making you feel like you belong — like you’ve stumbled into a whānau you didn’t know you were missing. That kind of space is genuinely precious, and it’s the kind of thing no amount of production value alone can create. It comes from the heart of the people behind it, and that heart is very much alive at Twisted.

I had the honour of performing at twisted in 2021. It was also my first summer festival. I got to meet so many amazing performers including internationally known acts which was such a boon both personally and professionally I’ve never been to a festival where I felt as safe as I did at twisted. I’ve never been to a festival so committed to its kopapa and the environment, it was so unbelievably clean and refreshing. I met friends I still make memories with to this day. As a comedy performer it’s rare to get an opportunity to share your art at festivals in a way that really makes space for the form. I felt so much love and care. Even when there was a performer who’s set was not appropriate they were removed swiftly and the show continued smoothly.

Twisted was my opener to the festival scene.I was heavily involved in the music scene and after i went to twisted i felt like i belonged. not only are the people who work for twisted amazing people, the space is gorgeous, the artists are LOCAL and important to grass roots festivals, everyone is looking out for each other, and you return home with the purest feeling of peace, happiness and a few new friends that you see the next year you return to Twisted. I started going when I was 16 and it has altered my brain in the most positive way. it is the thing that i look forward to at the end of some pretty rough years. You laugh, you cry, you create some of the best memories of your life at Twisted and for that I am forever grateful for the whānau at Twisted over the years, thank you for making my life enjoyable, thank you for giving me something that i genuinely look forward to, thank you for supporting local and for this beautiful space that we share with people who come together to experience bliss life.

Twisted has given me my first consistent experiences of what it can be like when you feel safe at a festival. As a young woman, I have become sadly accustomed to belligerent behavior and appreciate advances from men in festival settings. Twisted has such a positive and kind culture that I felt respected, safe, and like I could seek help without judgement or fear at any time - I could enjoy the music and my friends without having to be on guard. This is a special and unique experience to Twisted that I don’t want to lose.

Twisted as i can say for thousands of others. Has changed my life and the people around me. It was a world I only hoped existed. And it surpassed my dreams. All year round the crew are looking forward to coming back together to get weird. All year round this is what brings us together from all sides of the country and globe. This is our reunion and blow out. Always looking at how can we make our set up more strange. I have made life long connections here, from artists to wider community. This is what its about!! And the music is unmatched.

Maybe the best part about Twisted (except the music!) is the people. You get to make these awesome, lifelong friendships with the most interesting people and strengthen the relationships you have with mates you already had. People have gone from being acquaintances to my best friends after spending a few nights in the Cobb valley with them. It opens you up as a person and allows you to grow into who you've always really been. Its the only time ive ever felt completely safe when surrounded by so many people. Even on nights like the 2026 new year where people are having their tents flooded and almost hypothermic, there is always someone keen to help out. There are endless examples from the two years i've been to Twisted of the impossible to match community. Sitting on the bus heading in for the night and overhearing a convo happening a few seats back and being able to just jump in and share your thoughts, being lost in the bush and a stranger helping you find your way back, letting three people sleep in my bed because their tents were flooded, helping a woman back to ber tent when she couldnt find it in the dark, chatting to the bus drivers who work long shifts so we can have constant acsess to and from the festival. Everyone i've met in the Cobb has been a truly unique, wonderful, loving human.

It was an amazing safe environment where people can safely and freely express themselves with no judgement

Since 2021, Twisted for me has been an annual pilgrimage from Tāmaki Makaurau to the beautiful clear waters of the Cobb Valley. Through Twisted I've made beautiful friendships that span across both motu and have made important musical connections that have been integral to my development as an artist. Twisted has also exposed me to a world of music that makes me truly believe in the future of underground music here in Aotearoa. Twisted is one of the few festivals that when I perform as an artist, I can fully give all of myself because I actually believe in the festival - Twisted's commitment to supporting Aotearoa's underground music, looking after the whenua and awa, its commitment to Te Tiriti and towards the mana whenua of Mohua, the efforts made to make the festival a safe place for attendees, consistently providing high quality audio, visuals and artwork, looking after their crew and volunteers, and ultimately for building a community that cares for one another and the planet in a grounded way. Aotearoa needs Twisted. We need events like Twisted to expose people to music, art and community in ways that are not oriented around profit but instead for people and planet.

Twisted frequency was a dream come true. I have always wanted to be an apart of creating special events, learn the ropes and work at festivals and having twisted be the first festival to have me on board was life changing to say the least. I gained so much experience and life long connections that I will never forget. Twisted was a magical door opening for me that allowed me to continue down the road I have been dreaming of by continuing to work in creating festivals including “salt water fresh water” and “rabbits eat lettuce”. I’d wish for nothing more then for Twisted to continue providing the best music festival experience I have ever had the opportunity of being a part of and for myself to be apart of it for as long as I’m on this planet.

Twisted healed my mind, body and soul.

Twisted has represented a phenomenal amount of music from Aotearoa artists for well over a decade. It has launched a great number of artist careers and inspired countless more, and constantly represented our indigenous culture alongside futuristic music and art, which is a fantastic way to connect us all together.

Twisted Frequency was the epitome of a turning point in my life. The first time I went, it felt like my eyes were opened to a reality I never knew existed — a world far beyond the version of “normal” I had been conditioned to believe in. I had always thought outside the box, but Twisted showed me there was no box at all. It was an explosive event in my healing journey that rocketed my growth in getting to know myself, connecting with the wider community, and understanding the depth of human creativity and expression. The experience shifted the entire trajectory of my life, planting a seed of creativity, freedom, and self-discovery that shaped the person I am today.

As a creative it has been an epic space for growth. Being surrounded by other creatives doing awesome shit, networking, getting involved. I have participated on crew, and had the chance to sell my stuff in the marketplace. It’s a community hive and that is so important for humans. It connects locals with travellers, while providing enjoyable experiences for a wide range of people.

Nature & nurture

For me its meant a great opportunity to meet so many new people from all over the world and share new experiences and moments with those I love that you just dont get on an ordinary day.

The twisted community has led to so much growth in my life both professionally and personally. I have gained employment at other valuable events such as Māoriland film festival, wow and cubadupa through twisted. I have made life long friendships through twisted. I have become more politically engaged due to conversations facilitated by twisted. I have learnt so much about planning events that i have been able to apply in my own community. I have seen people be more conscious about the substances they are taking through testing and conversations facilitated by twisted. I have seen how other festivals have used twisteds ideas for crowd safety!! Twisted has taught me how much rnv, sound splash and other commercialised festivals don’t care about their participants as twisted has double or triple the crowd care with not even half the funding. Twisted has widened my community and led to so much fun

I have been lucky enough to play with a number of projects over the years and every time it is a highlight of my year. It gets better every time. The people, the location, it is genuinely one of a kind.

Twisted Frequencies has helped develop my professional career as an event technician. Not only have I been given the opportunity to develope my skills, it has lead me to meet people which I now work with in proffesional environments throughout the south island. TF has allowed me to develope proffessional skills such as teamwork, confidence and creative thinking. As a lighting, sounds and power distribution specialist working for ETS and Hangup entertainment in Christchurch I utilize skills learned and developed at TF over the past 10 years.

Twisted is more than a festival to me.

Twisted was the spark that started my entire career path. When i first attended, i was absolutely blown away by the visual art everywhere and the projection mapping that they have on the mainstage. Out of curiosity, I stuck my head in the front of house tent and was met with such a welcoming crew of people, keen to share any info i asked about. No gatekeeping or anything. I would never have found my passion if it werent for this creative melting pot that is twisted. 4 years later im on the visuals team, doing the exact thing that seemed unobtainable for me years ago. There are very few festivals that you can approach the production team mid gig and pick their brains like that. And i owe my life to that kind of generosity.

as a lover of NZ music i'm a firm believer that twisted frequency is the only new years festival that is accommodating to helping NZ artist grow. it would be wonderful if more festivals had this in their visions as much as twisted does but they do not. twisted is a festival like no other! the level of Mana and Aroha that is shared through the festival goers and artists is something that any festival in the world should thrive to pursue.

Twisted was the first place that made me truly feel at home. Growing up I struggled a lot with being bullied, and it resulted in me living as a muted version of myself, to try and stay liked by communities that weren’t right for me. Walking through this beautiful festival reminds me to be proud of who I am, and to never change, because there will always be a community here where I am seen. Since attending twisted for the first time, my life has done a full 180! I went from being too anxious to answer phone calls, and living an unhealthy, messy life, to having 2 jobs that I love, taking up multiple new hobbies, and even becoming a performer and a circus teacher! Twisted frequency is where caterpillars can turn into butterflies. It’s where the “different” ones can go to feel a sense of community and pride in themselves. It’s a communal release of energy through dance, movement and noise. Twisted is a collage of some of my best memories.

2025/2026 was my first year at twisted and I felt right at home. The people, the atmosphere, the music was all amazing. The Cobb valley is so beautiful, the work twisted does for the environment is so awesome running an event of that size and still keeping the place clean.

Twisted Frequency has been such an important festival for me as a young person. It has connected me in so many ways; connected me to land, to community, to new friendships and relationships, to music and the importance of The Underground, to opportunities and so much more ! Twisted and all that it brings has shaped me as a person.

twisted has meant joy to everything my life is today. genuinely. my closest friends are the ones i connected with most at my first twisted and it has been peace in my head since then. twisted to me means starting off the year with not a worry in my head, with joy in my toes and bliss in my fingers. twisted means to me the thing i enjoy looking forward to every year from the 4th of january, something to be excited for every single day

Not long out of high school, around 2007 during my apprentice years, I went to my first outdoor rave dance party, which was a Winter Solstice at the Waiora Scout Camp in Dunedin. The venue Dance Music promoter Sammy's Dunedin, was the main nightlife rave crew I knew. I later moved to Nelson in 2010 when, after qualifying from my apprenticeship as an industrial maintenance engineer when I was made redundant due to the '08 financial crisis. In Nelson, I naturally gravitated toward the same nightlife music and outdoor rave dance cultures for social recreation. We found that town nightlife was too drunken, messy, and antisocial, while dance/rave events in the hills and valleys behind the township provided spaces that seemed more social and appropriate for dance music. This is where I met many who are still involved today, and many who aren't. I remember being younger, jumping in headfirst and embracing it with trust and thankfulness for the community it provided for me as someone who had traveled to the region from another place. We heard some great music, socialized with each other in younger form, supported our friends playing music while many of us played music or contributed in various ways with arts and offerings, and we saw each other grow through time. What we trusted turned out not always to be safe, and we learned the hard way, but solved the problems as they arose and developed more sturdy procedures and practices. For some of us, this culture and lifestyle kept us going when nothing else could, motivated us, gave us a sense of purpose and a spark that got us moving, gave us skills and work experience when otherwise we had been stuck between jobs. It got us networked and making value from our creative skills while applying our practical skills, which also kept us work-ready and networked some of us into opportunities for further flow on work and creative development. It gave some of us a home when we were between homes and some jobs when we were between jobs; it was the safety net to catch those who slipped through the cracks, and it uplifted us into more experienced and developed versions of ourselves. It was created because it happened, and it happened because there was a need for it. We needed it because we needed each other, the community, and the support. So it just happened spontaneously, the gatherings and parties. But in the ad hoc spontaneity, some bad actors also tried to exploit the parties in general. As young people, this was difficult to figure out how to resolve and find solutions for, but the community worked together and developed solutions, and these solutions worked more than they had a chance to fail. That is what led to the creation of Twisted Frequency Festival to uphold a strong kaupapa of core values. It was no longer just what was before—spontaneous, unregulated discos in the forest—but now a gathering of Aotearoa's most premium underground dance music culture—a platform for it to grow and thrive with well-developed safe systems for security and organization. And over the years, the passion and spark for the shared vision of safe, well-organized dance music gatherings was honed into what we know today, and the growth is evident as we look back over the years. Twisted Frequency Festival has provided that safety net for me during many times I have needed peer support and has always created a sense of belonging through many hours volunteering, with inclusion when interest and applications have been made. I am truly grateful for this and hope that we can keep being a safety net for each other and whoever may need this in the future, because whether Twisted stays or comes to a close, the culture will live on and keep trying to show up to meet the needs of the people. However, the resources to do it in the well-developed way that Twisted Frequency does always cost money to implement. But it prevents harm and creates a fun, safe environment for everyone to celebrate, and this is a big reason why Twisted Frequency Festival needs as much funding and support as possible right now to keep it afloat.

As an Aussie traveling to the beautiful NZ my partner and I immediately felt at home within the beautiful family and community created at Twisted. We volunteered 2023 and can’t wait to be back in NZ to experience the amazing vibes at Twisted and to be part of your whānau again!

Twisted was the community I didn’t know I was searching for, and after first touching it 7 years ago I haven’t looked back. The belonging, meaning and responsibility I found was a major part of recovering from poor mental health. A place where music, art and community spirit are celebrated and fostered at the very grass roots level. It’s inspirational, healing, and critical to a thriving music industry and Healthy society.

Finally found a family / whanau where I am not perceived as weird.

I love the deep sense of community- I had never experienced something like it. Spaces like Twisted just ooze of acceptance, freedom, taking care of one another, and belonging. Twisted helped me understand some of my insecurities and let go of them. The talent is just incomprehensible. The PASSION of every single person who contributes to making Twisted happen is invigorating and restorative. The musicccc!!!! I fell in love with new genres here. People have great taste in music, fashion, style, food, set design, lighting, etc. I felt like I’d walked into an immersive art piece.

I have played now at Twisted twice. The first time was the first time i had attended. It blew my mind how beautiful the place was, how well the thing was run, an how caring the attendees were. I felt so grateful. And even more grateful that we were asked back a second time. We blew the crowd away. It was like a dream for me. To be able to share my particular skills with a crowd that big, and that into it.

Twisted has been hugely influential for me both personally and creatively. As someone involved in electronic music and DJing, it has been a real stepping stone in shaping my creative direction and exposing me to a hugely diverse variety of genres, artists and ways of thinking about dance music that genuinely shifted my perspective. What makes Twisted special is that it creates space for experimentation and openness in a way that feels increasingly rare. There is a strong sense of connection not just between people, but also to the whenua and awa surrounding the festival, which gives the experience a depth and feeling that stays with you long after it ends. A lot of the music, ideas and approaches I now bring into my own DJing and involvement in Wellington’s underground scene were shaped by experiences at Twisted. It broadened my understanding of what electronic music, creative community and alternative cultural spaces could be. Spaces like twisted are incredibly important for our creative communities because they give emerging artists, crews and attendees the chance to grow and be exposed to forms of music and expression that often aren’t accessible elsewhere. I’d really love to see it continue for future weirdo creative people to find their place, inspiration and sense of belonging.

I have been at every single Twisted since it became a New Years event. It is an integral part of who I am as a person, who my community is and what my life looks like overall. I have been a punter, volunteer, artist (acoustic and DJ), and crew as Operations, Site Management and Accounts Lead. The connections I have gained through the festival are endless. It has brought me a sense of whanau that I can't even put into words in a way that would truly do it justice. When I meet people who don't inhabit a similar scene that brings such a rich sense of connectedness with others, I am reminded of how lucky I am to have such an amazing community. The sense of belonging that I feel within it directly contributes to my wellbeing on a year-round basis. This submission would be too long if I were to detail all of the magic that has come from the connections I have gained through Twisted. I can say that I have gained some incredibly valuable skills and insights through all of the work I have been involved with, ones that will carry forward into my career and my art for the rest of my life. Something about Twisted that I think is incredibly valuable is the way it creates a space for people to learn, and connect with others. People come to Twisted as fledgling artists, or volunteers, and often gain connections or skills which they then take out into the world. Some artists that play there early in their music career end up as huge international artists. Likewise people learn skills such as building, people management, rigging, crowd safety, or budgeting. It's amazing to watch. It's a melting pot of incredible people bouncing off each other and getting better and better with each year. This festival brings so much joy, learning, creativity and community into the world, its value cannot be stated highly enough.

Twisted literally saved my life! I found my community here. My first friends in my 20 years of living. I went here alone and came back with a whole whanau. It changed my life in the best way possible. It gave me creativity. A love and passion for music and arts. It influenced me to study design at university. It gave me movement and freedom over dancing. I love twisted so much!! Aroha nui

I have gone to Twisted as a festival-goer twice now (2024/2025 and 2025/2026) and I can confidently say that this festival is something you will not experience anywhere else in New Zealand. The landscape, the people, the energy and the whole 5 days is nothing like the real world - twisted creates this fantasy, utopia-like dream that makes you feel like you have found the hole from Alice in Wonderland. I think the main thing that I found that makes it different to all other festivals is the fact that the organisers are all amazing, chill and artistic people. It’s totally created by creatives, for creatives. As long as I live in Aotearoa, Twisted will be my festival of choice.

Twisted Frequency holds a special place in my heart as one of the most genuinely community-driven gatherings I’ve ever had the privilege of attending. What struck me most wasn’t just the music or the stunning environment — it was the people. There was an openness and warmth that felt rare and intentional, a space where creativity wasn’t just celebrated but woven into everything around you. You could feel how much care had gone into creating something that wasn’t just a festival, but a living, breathing community. The connections I made there, even as someone coming from far away, felt real and lasting. Twisted Frequency has a way of making you feel like you belong — like you’ve stumbled into a whānau you didn’t know you were missing. That kind of space is genuinely precious, and it’s the kind of thing no amount of production value alone can create. It comes from the heart of the people behind it, and that heart is very much alive at Twisted.

I had the honour of performing at twisted in 2021. It was also my first summer festival. I got to meet so many amazing performers including internationally known acts which was such a boon both personally and professionally I’ve never been to a festival where I felt as safe as I did at twisted. I’ve never been to a festival so committed to its kopapa and the environment, it was so unbelievably clean and refreshing. I met friends I still make memories with to this day. As a comedy performer it’s rare to get an opportunity to share your art at festivals in a way that really makes space for the form. I felt so much love and care. Even when there was a performer who’s set was not appropriate they were removed swiftly and the show continued smoothly.

Twisted was my opener to the festival scene.I was heavily involved in the music scene and after i went to twisted i felt like i belonged. not only are the people who work for twisted amazing people, the space is gorgeous, the artists are LOCAL and important to grass roots festivals, everyone is looking out for each other, and you return home with the purest feeling of peace, happiness and a few new friends that you see the next year you return to Twisted. I started going when I was 16 and it has altered my brain in the most positive way. it is the thing that i look forward to at the end of some pretty rough years. You laugh, you cry, you create some of the best memories of your life at Twisted and for that I am forever grateful for the whānau at Twisted over the years, thank you for making my life enjoyable, thank you for giving me something that i genuinely look forward to, thank you for supporting local and for this beautiful space that we share with people who come together to experience bliss life.

Twisted has given me my first consistent experiences of what it can be like when you feel safe at a festival. As a young woman, I have become sadly accustomed to belligerent behavior and appreciate advances from men in festival settings. Twisted has such a positive and kind culture that I felt respected, safe, and like I could seek help without judgement or fear at any time - I could enjoy the music and my friends without having to be on guard. This is a special and unique experience to Twisted that I don’t want to lose.

Twisted as i can say for thousands of others. Has changed my life and the people around me. It was a world I only hoped existed. And it surpassed my dreams. All year round the crew are looking forward to coming back together to get weird. All year round this is what brings us together from all sides of the country and globe. This is our reunion and blow out. Always looking at how can we make our set up more strange. I have made life long connections here, from artists to wider community. This is what its about!! And the music is unmatched.

Maybe the best part about Twisted (except the music!) is the people. You get to make these awesome, lifelong friendships with the most interesting people and strengthen the relationships you have with mates you already had. People have gone from being acquaintances to my best friends after spending a few nights in the Cobb valley with them. It opens you up as a person and allows you to grow into who you've always really been. Its the only time ive ever felt completely safe when surrounded by so many people. Even on nights like the 2026 new year where people are having their tents flooded and almost hypothermic, there is always someone keen to help out. There are endless examples from the two years i've been to Twisted of the impossible to match community. Sitting on the bus heading in for the night and overhearing a convo happening a few seats back and being able to just jump in and share your thoughts, being lost in the bush and a stranger helping you find your way back, letting three people sleep in my bed because their tents were flooded, helping a woman back to ber tent when she couldnt find it in the dark, chatting to the bus drivers who work long shifts so we can have constant acsess to and from the festival. Everyone i've met in the Cobb has been a truly unique, wonderful, loving human.

It was an amazing safe environment where people can safely and freely express themselves with no judgement

Since 2021, Twisted for me has been an annual pilgrimage from Tāmaki Makaurau to the beautiful clear waters of the Cobb Valley. Through Twisted I've made beautiful friendships that span across both motu and have made important musical connections that have been integral to my development as an artist. Twisted has also exposed me to a world of music that makes me truly believe in the future of underground music here in Aotearoa. Twisted is one of the few festivals that when I perform as an artist, I can fully give all of myself because I actually believe in the festival - Twisted's commitment to supporting Aotearoa's underground music, looking after the whenua and awa, its commitment to Te Tiriti and towards the mana whenua of Mohua, the efforts made to make the festival a safe place for attendees, consistently providing high quality audio, visuals and artwork, looking after their crew and volunteers, and ultimately for building a community that cares for one another and the planet in a grounded way. Aotearoa needs Twisted. We need events like Twisted to expose people to music, art and community in ways that are not oriented around profit but instead for people and planet.

Twisted frequency was a dream come true. I have always wanted to be an apart of creating special events, learn the ropes and work at festivals and having twisted be the first festival to have me on board was life changing to say the least. I gained so much experience and life long connections that I will never forget. Twisted was a magical door opening for me that allowed me to continue down the road I have been dreaming of by continuing to work in creating festivals including “salt water fresh water” and “rabbits eat lettuce”. I’d wish for nothing more then for Twisted to continue providing the best music festival experience I have ever had the opportunity of being a part of and for myself to be apart of it for as long as I’m on this planet.

Twisted healed my mind, body and soul.

Twisted has represented a phenomenal amount of music from Aotearoa artists for well over a decade. It has launched a great number of artist careers and inspired countless more, and constantly represented our indigenous culture alongside futuristic music and art, which is a fantastic way to connect us all together.

Twisted Frequency was the epitome of a turning point in my life. The first time I went, it felt like my eyes were opened to a reality I never knew existed — a world far beyond the version of “normal” I had been conditioned to believe in. I had always thought outside the box, but Twisted showed me there was no box at all. It was an explosive event in my healing journey that rocketed my growth in getting to know myself, connecting with the wider community, and understanding the depth of human creativity and expression. The experience shifted the entire trajectory of my life, planting a seed of creativity, freedom, and self-discovery that shaped the person I am today.

As a creative it has been an epic space for growth. Being surrounded by other creatives doing awesome shit, networking, getting involved. I have participated on crew, and had the chance to sell my stuff in the marketplace. It’s a community hive and that is so important for humans. It connects locals with travellers, while providing enjoyable experiences for a wide range of people.

Nature & nurture

For me its meant a great opportunity to meet so many new people from all over the world and share new experiences and moments with those I love that you just dont get on an ordinary day.

The twisted community has led to so much growth in my life both professionally and personally. I have gained employment at other valuable events such as Māoriland film festival, wow and cubadupa through twisted. I have made life long friendships through twisted. I have become more politically engaged due to conversations facilitated by twisted. I have learnt so much about planning events that i have been able to apply in my own community. I have seen people be more conscious about the substances they are taking through testing and conversations facilitated by twisted. I have seen how other festivals have used twisteds ideas for crowd safety!! Twisted has taught me how much rnv, sound splash and other commercialised festivals don’t care about their participants as twisted has double or triple the crowd care with not even half the funding. Twisted has widened my community and led to so much fun

I have been lucky enough to play with a number of projects over the years and every time it is a highlight of my year. It gets better every time. The people, the location, it is genuinely one of a kind.

Twisted Frequencies has helped develop my professional career as an event technician. Not only have I been given the opportunity to develope my skills, it has lead me to meet people which I now work with in proffesional environments throughout the south island. TF has allowed me to develope proffessional skills such as teamwork, confidence and creative thinking. As a lighting, sounds and power distribution specialist working for ETS and Hangup entertainment in Christchurch I utilize skills learned and developed at TF over the past 10 years.

Twisted is more than a festival to me.

Twisted was the spark that started my entire career path. When i first attended, i was absolutely blown away by the visual art everywhere and the projection mapping that they have on the mainstage. Out of curiosity, I stuck my head in the front of house tent and was met with such a welcoming crew of people, keen to share any info i asked about. No gatekeeping or anything. I would never have found my passion if it werent for this creative melting pot that is twisted. 4 years later im on the visuals team, doing the exact thing that seemed unobtainable for me years ago. There are very few festivals that you can approach the production team mid gig and pick their brains like that. And i owe my life to that kind of generosity.

as a lover of NZ music i'm a firm believer that twisted frequency is the only new years festival that is accommodating to helping NZ artist grow. it would be wonderful if more festivals had this in their visions as much as twisted does but they do not. twisted is a festival like no other! the level of Mana and Aroha that is shared through the festival goers and artists is something that any festival in the world should thrive to pursue.

Twisted was the first place that made me truly feel at home. Growing up I struggled a lot with being bullied, and it resulted in me living as a muted version of myself, to try and stay liked by communities that weren’t right for me. Walking through this beautiful festival reminds me to be proud of who I am, and to never change, because there will always be a community here where I am seen. Since attending twisted for the first time, my life has done a full 180! I went from being too anxious to answer phone calls, and living an unhealthy, messy life, to having 2 jobs that I love, taking up multiple new hobbies, and even becoming a performer and a circus teacher! Twisted frequency is where caterpillars can turn into butterflies. It’s where the “different” ones can go to feel a sense of community and pride in themselves. It’s a communal release of energy through dance, movement and noise. Twisted is a collage of some of my best memories.

2025/2026 was my first year at twisted and I felt right at home. The people, the atmosphere, the music was all amazing. The Cobb valley is so beautiful, the work twisted does for the environment is so awesome running an event of that size and still keeping the place clean.

Twisted Frequency has been such an important festival for me as a young person. It has connected me in so many ways; connected me to land, to community, to new friendships and relationships, to music and the importance of The Underground, to opportunities and so much more ! Twisted and all that it brings has shaped me as a person.

twisted has meant joy to everything my life is today. genuinely. my closest friends are the ones i connected with most at my first twisted and it has been peace in my head since then. twisted to me means starting off the year with not a worry in my head, with joy in my toes and bliss in my fingers. twisted means to me the thing i enjoy looking forward to every year from the 4th of january, something to be excited for every single day

Not long out of high school, around 2007 during my apprentice years, I went to my first outdoor rave dance party, which was a Winter Solstice at the Waiora Scout Camp in Dunedin. The venue Dance Music promoter Sammy's Dunedin, was the main nightlife rave crew I knew. I later moved to Nelson in 2010 when, after qualifying from my apprenticeship as an industrial maintenance engineer when I was made redundant due to the '08 financial crisis. In Nelson, I naturally gravitated toward the same nightlife music and outdoor rave dance cultures for social recreation. We found that town nightlife was too drunken, messy, and antisocial, while dance/rave events in the hills and valleys behind the township provided spaces that seemed more social and appropriate for dance music. This is where I met many who are still involved today, and many who aren't. I remember being younger, jumping in headfirst and embracing it with trust and thankfulness for the community it provided for me as someone who had traveled to the region from another place. We heard some great music, socialized with each other in younger form, supported our friends playing music while many of us played music or contributed in various ways with arts and offerings, and we saw each other grow through time. What we trusted turned out not always to be safe, and we learned the hard way, but solved the problems as they arose and developed more sturdy procedures and practices. For some of us, this culture and lifestyle kept us going when nothing else could, motivated us, gave us a sense of purpose and a spark that got us moving, gave us skills and work experience when otherwise we had been stuck between jobs. It got us networked and making value from our creative skills while applying our practical skills, which also kept us work-ready and networked some of us into opportunities for further flow on work and creative development. It gave some of us a home when we were between homes and some jobs when we were between jobs; it was the safety net to catch those who slipped through the cracks, and it uplifted us into more experienced and developed versions of ourselves. It was created because it happened, and it happened because there was a need for it. We needed it because we needed each other, the community, and the support. So it just happened spontaneously, the gatherings and parties. But in the ad hoc spontaneity, some bad actors also tried to exploit the parties in general. As young people, this was difficult to figure out how to resolve and find solutions for, but the community worked together and developed solutions, and these solutions worked more than they had a chance to fail. That is what led to the creation of Twisted Frequency Festival to uphold a strong kaupapa of core values. It was no longer just what was before—spontaneous, unregulated discos in the forest—but now a gathering of Aotearoa's most premium underground dance music culture—a platform for it to grow and thrive with well-developed safe systems for security and organization. And over the years, the passion and spark for the shared vision of safe, well-organized dance music gatherings was honed into what we know today, and the growth is evident as we look back over the years. Twisted Frequency Festival has provided that safety net for me during many times I have needed peer support and has always created a sense of belonging through many hours volunteering, with inclusion when interest and applications have been made. I am truly grateful for this and hope that we can keep being a safety net for each other and whoever may need this in the future, because whether Twisted stays or comes to a close, the culture will live on and keep trying to show up to meet the needs of the people. However, the resources to do it in the well-developed way that Twisted Frequency does always cost money to implement. But it prevents harm and creates a fun, safe environment for everyone to celebrate, and this is a big reason why Twisted Frequency Festival needs as much funding and support as possible right now to keep it afloat.

As an Aussie traveling to the beautiful NZ my partner and I immediately felt at home within the beautiful family and community created at Twisted. We volunteered 2023 and can’t wait to be back in NZ to experience the amazing vibes at Twisted and to be part of your whānau again!

Twisted was the community I didn’t know I was searching for, and after first touching it 7 years ago I haven’t looked back. The belonging, meaning and responsibility I found was a major part of recovering from poor mental health. A place where music, art and community spirit are celebrated and fostered at the very grass roots level. It’s inspirational, healing, and critical to a thriving music industry and Healthy society.

Finally found a family / whanau where I am not perceived as weird.

I love the deep sense of community- I had never experienced something like it. Spaces like Twisted just ooze of acceptance, freedom, taking care of one another, and belonging. Twisted helped me understand some of my insecurities and let go of them. The talent is just incomprehensible. The PASSION of every single person who contributes to making Twisted happen is invigorating and restorative. The musicccc!!!! I fell in love with new genres here. People have great taste in music, fashion, style, food, set design, lighting, etc. I felt like I’d walked into an immersive art piece.

I have played now at Twisted twice. The first time was the first time i had attended. It blew my mind how beautiful the place was, how well the thing was run, an how caring the attendees were. I felt so grateful. And even more grateful that we were asked back a second time. We blew the crowd away. It was like a dream for me. To be able to share my particular skills with a crowd that big, and that into it.

Twisted has been hugely influential for me both personally and creatively. As someone involved in electronic music and DJing, it has been a real stepping stone in shaping my creative direction and exposing me to a hugely diverse variety of genres, artists and ways of thinking about dance music that genuinely shifted my perspective. What makes Twisted special is that it creates space for experimentation and openness in a way that feels increasingly rare. There is a strong sense of connection not just between people, but also to the whenua and awa surrounding the festival, which gives the experience a depth and feeling that stays with you long after it ends. A lot of the music, ideas and approaches I now bring into my own DJing and involvement in Wellington’s underground scene were shaped by experiences at Twisted. It broadened my understanding of what electronic music, creative community and alternative cultural spaces could be. Spaces like twisted are incredibly important for our creative communities because they give emerging artists, crews and attendees the chance to grow and be exposed to forms of music and expression that often aren’t accessible elsewhere. I’d really love to see it continue for future weirdo creative people to find their place, inspiration and sense of belonging.

I have been at every single Twisted since it became a New Years event. It is an integral part of who I am as a person, who my community is and what my life looks like overall. I have been a punter, volunteer, artist (acoustic and DJ), and crew as Operations, Site Management and Accounts Lead. The connections I have gained through the festival are endless. It has brought me a sense of whanau that I can't even put into words in a way that would truly do it justice. When I meet people who don't inhabit a similar scene that brings such a rich sense of connectedness with others, I am reminded of how lucky I am to have such an amazing community. The sense of belonging that I feel within it directly contributes to my wellbeing on a year-round basis. This submission would be too long if I were to detail all of the magic that has come from the connections I have gained through Twisted. I can say that I have gained some incredibly valuable skills and insights through all of the work I have been involved with, ones that will carry forward into my career and my art for the rest of my life. Something about Twisted that I think is incredibly valuable is the way it creates a space for people to learn, and connect with others. People come to Twisted as fledgling artists, or volunteers, and often gain connections or skills which they then take out into the world. Some artists that play there early in their music career end up as huge international artists. Likewise people learn skills such as building, people management, rigging, crowd safety, or budgeting. It's amazing to watch. It's a melting pot of incredible people bouncing off each other and getting better and better with each year. This festival brings so much joy, learning, creativity and community into the world, its value cannot be stated highly enough.

Twisted literally saved my life! I found my community here. My first friends in my 20 years of living. I went here alone and came back with a whole whanau. It changed my life in the best way possible. It gave me creativity. A love and passion for music and arts. It influenced me to study design at university. It gave me movement and freedom over dancing. I love twisted so much!! Aroha nui