A record 550 drones will light up Rotorua’s night sky next month, in a stunning display of light, sound and Māori storytelling to honour Matariki.
Beginning at 8PM on Thursday July 9 – Saturday July 11 (weather dependent), the Aronui Indigenous Arts Festival’s free Matariki Drone Show will feature a 550 drone visual experience – the largest fleet Aronui has ever flown.
Quickly becoming one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s most popular Matariki events, Te Arawa artists work closely with Aronui to create a production that combines cutting-edge aerial technology with mātauranga Māori to honour the cultural observance.
This year’s theme, Matariki herenga waka – for everyone, is about bringing people together across cultures, communities, and backgrounds, and reinforces that everyone has a place in the kaupapa. The show will tell the story of Matariki and honour those who have passed since its last rising, lifting their memory to the stars where they will forever be remembered by their loved ones.
This year’s magical soundscape has been designed by award-winning music producer Jimmy Colbert (Te Arawa, Ngapuhi) who worked with local tohunga reo to enhance the story of Matariki and her children – a cluster of 8 stars that govern over different parts of the environment.
Last year, Aronui’s Matariki Drone Show attracted more than 36,000 people to Rotorua’s lakefront across two nights, drawing visitors from across the motu and creating a vibrant atmosphere throughout the city during the Matariki long weekend.
Aronui CE/ Artistic Director, Cian Elyse White, says the team is proud to bring the free community event back in 2026, despite the challenges of funding a production of this scale.
“We believe deeply in the kaupapa and the positive impact this event has on our multicultural community each year. It’s incredibly meaningful seeing thousands of people come together to celebrate, reflect and connect through Matariki.”
Aronui is thrilled to be working with a NZ drone show company who has a locally based fleet of 1200+ drones in Aotearoa. The company has flown several shows in Aotearoa with a 100% success rate and looks forward to collaborating with Aronui to bring ‘Matariki’ to the shores of Lake Rotorua.
Aronui extends a special thanks to major sponsor One Foundation, alongside Rotorua Trust, MBIE Regional Events Fund, RotoruaNZ, Grassroots Trust and NZCT for helping make the event possible.
The full performance will be broadcast live on Te Arawa FM at 8PM each night, so those around the lake can listen to the story while watching the show.