A mini city has popped up near Gisborne, as 10,000 campers get into the annual Rhythm and Vines festivities.

There were 17,000 people jamming away to Chance the Rapper last night - seeing in day one of the country's biggest New Years Eve festival.

The rapper is one of the reasons Rhythm and Vines organiser Hamish Pinkham believes the festival has sold out again.

He said there are 10,000 people camping on site - and the rest come out to the Waiohika Estate to enjoy the festivities each day.

"We've got a lot of people throughout the region and houses and campgrounds, and a lot of campers on site, it becomes almost like a little mini city here."

Pinkham said the festival is in its 14th year - and organising it is still a dream job.

"We've made a lot of changes to the event the last few years, it's really grown up I think, and we've managed to take a lead on the drinking culture.

It's just a credit to everyone involved that the people want to come in year in and year out to come and celebrate with us here is Gisborne."