Aronui presents: Matariki Drone Show & Night Market
Advertisement
✨ Matariki herenga waka: For everyone ✨
📍 Rotorua Lakefront
🗓 Thursday 9th, Friday 10th, Saturday 11th July
✨ Drone Show 8PM nightly (weather dependent)
🍔 Rotorua Night Market from 5pm Thursday, and 1pm Friday and Saturday
🎹 Live music at Aronui HQ by Jack Moser from 6pm
🎟 FREE EVENT
**MATARIKI MATATOPA**
Aronui presents: Matariki Drone Show & Night Market will light up the Rotorua skies for a third year in a row with one of Aotearoa’s most breathtaking Matariki celebrations.
Join us nightly for a free outdoor experience combining 550 synchronised drones, powerful storytelling, sound, narration, and stunning visual artistry in honour of Matariki.
The Rotorua Night Market will be operating all three nights as well, serving up wonderful food, arts, and crafts.
✨ This year's theme of Matariki herenga waka is all about inclusion and encouraging all people to celebrate Matariki together. Last year, more than 36,000 people gathered at the Lakefront across two unforgettable nights, creating an electric atmosphere throughout Rotorua during the Matariki long weekend.
✨ The full soundtrack and narration will once again be broadcast live on Te Arawa FM at 8PM each night, allowing audiences around the lakefront to immerse themselves fully in the story while watching the skies come alive.
✨ E mihi nui ana ki a One Foundation, Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment Regional Events Fund, Rotorua Trust, Grassroots Trust, Rotorua NZ and NZCT.
Bring your whānau, gather by the lake, tune into Te Arawa FM, and experience a night of remembrance, culture, light and connection beneath the stars.
Matariki hunga nui. Matariki ahunga nui. Matariki Manako Nui.
Matariki brings people together.
#aronuimatariki2026
📍 Rotorua Lakefront
🗓 Thursday 9th, Friday 10th, Saturday 11th July
✨ Drone Show 8PM nightly (weather dependent)
🍔 Rotorua Night Market from 5pm Thursday, and 1pm Friday and Saturday
🎹 Live music at Aronui HQ by Jack Moser from 6pm
🎟 FREE EVENT
**MATARIKI MATATOPA**
Aronui presents: Matariki Drone Show & Night Market will light up the Rotorua skies for a third year in a row with one of Aotearoa’s most breathtaking Matariki celebrations.
Join us nightly for a free outdoor experience combining 550 synchronised drones, powerful storytelling, sound, narration, and stunning visual artistry in honour of Matariki.
The Rotorua Night Market will be operating all three nights as well, serving up wonderful food, arts, and crafts.
✨ This year's theme of Matariki herenga waka is all about inclusion and encouraging all people to celebrate Matariki together. Last year, more than 36,000 people gathered at the Lakefront across two unforgettable nights, creating an electric atmosphere throughout Rotorua during the Matariki long weekend.
✨ The full soundtrack and narration will once again be broadcast live on Te Arawa FM at 8PM each night, allowing audiences around the lakefront to immerse themselves fully in the story while watching the skies come alive.
✨ E mihi nui ana ki a One Foundation, Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment Regional Events Fund, Rotorua Trust, Grassroots Trust, Rotorua NZ and NZCT.
Bring your whānau, gather by the lake, tune into Te Arawa FM, and experience a night of remembrance, culture, light and connection beneath the stars.
Matariki hunga nui. Matariki ahunga nui. Matariki Manako Nui.
Matariki brings people together.
#aronuimatariki2026
Advertisement
Where is it happening?
Rotorua Lakefront, Atlas, Tutanekai St, Rotorua 3010, New Zealand, Rotorua
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.
Host or PublisherAronui Arts Festival
