Event Details
Jul 11
The beach, Te Matau-a-Māui Hawke's Bay
Matariki Mahuika is a people-powered Matariki project that involves welcoming people to share the warmth of their fire on beaches right around Aoetaroa New Zealand.
A tradition that began in Te Matau-a-Māui Hawke's Bay in 2023, this DIY celebration has seen many thousands of people answer the call to "take your mates, your mokos, your marshmallows" and head to the beaches to celebrate Matariki.
For 2026, organisers Te Rangi Huata and Neill Gordon aim to build on 2025's revival of traditional storytelling around the fire.
In a nutshell: DIY fires at the beach
Free community event
Gather all people together for Matariki
Beach fires to celebrate all New Zealanders' connection to place and each other
Choose your own spot or join us for storytelling and lanterns from 6pm at 546 Marine Parade, Napier
(Next to National Aquarium of
New Zealand).
A revival of traditional storytelling around the fire
Saturday July 11 2026
In July 2023, Ngāti Kahungunu invited people to head to the Hawke’s Bay beaches and light a fire using the driftwood left on the shore by Cyclone Gabrielle. Although publicity began only 12 days before the event, on the night 25,000 people turned up and lit up the coast from Cape Kidnappers to Mahia - 200 kilometres of fires.
And not only did people turn up, they embraced the kaupapa of manaakitanga, kaitiakitanga, whanaungatanga and rangatiratanga and did what they’d been asked to do: “take your mates, your mokos, your marshmallows, look after the beach, look after your fire, welcome people in and talk to strangers”.
Matariki Mahuika is a DIY event. The lighting of and looking after the fires is up to individuals and whanau. Basically, you pick your favourite spot at the beach, head there and do your thing. We'll all be there doing our own thing and also part of something larger.
Safety for everyone and care for the environment is key, which is why doing it in winter, when the fire risk is generally zero. We love the beach, the creatures that live there and the natural environment. We not only look after each other, we aim to leave the beach in a better state than we find it. Volunteers undertake a beach clean-up the morning after the event.
We ask people not to take materials to the beach to burn, but to choose a suitable spot where driftwood is available. In particular, please do not bring pallets to the beach because they leave heaps of nails behind.
Not everywhere around Aotearoa will be suitable – because of factors including weather conditions on the day. Some parts of the coast - where there might be nesting birds, seals or other wildlife for example - require special care. Respect for official advice, local knowledge and local conditions is sensible whenever you're lighting a fire.
For safety advice see Fire and Emergency NZ's https://www.checkitsalright.nz/reduce-your-risk
