Main stage of New Zealand festival evacuated

The main stage of a New Zealand festival has been evacuated just before a minute’s silence to be held for victims of the Christchurch massacre.

Concertgoers were evacuated from the main stage of Homegrown festival, in Wellington, at about 9.20pm on Saturday evening. 

A minute’s silence to honour the 50 victims of the March 15 Christchurch terror attack was scheduled for 9.25pm. 

Festival organisers urged the revellers to standby just before 10pm local time

Police held concerns over a man in attendance and decided to evacuate attendees as a safety precaution. 

‘Following concerns held by Homegrown security about a person, a decision was made to evacuate the Waitangi Park area of the festival at around 9:20pm,’ police said.   

‘A person has been spoken to and the area searched, and as a result Police can confirm there has been no threat to the Homegrown festival or the public.’

A police spokeswoman told Daily Mail Australia the incident was understood to be a misunderstanding.   

Festival organisers urged the revellers to standby just before 10pm local time.

‘For all of you all who have been evacuated from Dub n Roots please standby we are hoping to reopen the stage – we will update you as soon as we know,’ Homegrown wrote on Facebook.  

‘We are just waiting on further advice from Police.’    

Police held concerns over a man in attendance and decided to evacuate attendees as a safety precaution

There are five stages at the Waitangi Park waterfront venue but only the main stage was evacuated. 

Homegrown updated concertgoers at 10pm to announce the main stage would be reopened. 

‘Everyone is now able to return to the Dub n Roots Stage at Waitangi Park,’ they wrote on Facebook.  

‘The Bars will not be reopened but Shapeshifter will be on stage very soon.’ 

Homegrown said Shapeshifter, the main act, would play until 11pm as planned.