I was wondering what happened, why it ended, and eventually found this that explains that it wasn't that great anymore, people stopped going, and the last one they had half the people they needed to break even and all the unpaid staff stole equipment.

It's a shame, it sounds like the first few were a really genuinely good time. It would have been amazing to be a part of. But to be honest I can't imagine myself going to something like that these days, all the fun would happen past my bed time.

Does the girl at 38:20 have string tied around her arm for the reasons I'm assuming?

[–] rimu 2 points 1 year ago

The Gathering was really the spark that make the dance music scene take off in NZ. By around 2000 there were events happening all over the country and there was less need to trek to the middle of nowhere for a festival. The initial enthusiasm and idealism that energised the early days started to fade so money was needed then suddenly it's a much harder game.