Summer 2024-25 is shaping up to be a season packed with exciting events, from music festivals to marathons, tournaments and cultural events – there’s something for all to enjoy. Explore what’s happening in Tairāwhiti Gisborne this summer and start planning your holiday break! Here’s a round-up of events that Trust Tairāwhiti is proud to support:
Te Whare Pora: A Sacred Space
30 November 2024 – 23 February 2025
Location: Tairāwhiti Museum
Takatāpui fabric artist, educator and storyteller grounded in Te Ao Māori, Maungarongo Te Kawa weaves traditional pūrākau into contemporary designs, using humour and warmth to revitalise ancestral stories. This exhibition broadens the scope of Māori art through quilting, differing from the typical carving, kōwhaiwhai and painting found in traditional exhibitions. This will be the last chance to check out the exhibition following its three-year worldwide tour, so be sure to get in quickly!
Rhythm and Vines (RnV)
29 – 31 December 2024
Location: Waiohika Estate, Gisborne
This iconic three-day music festival returns with an electrifying lineup of top artists to help ring in the new year. As the only festival in the world to welcome the year’s first sunrise, it’s set to be an unforgettable celebration.
Hikurangi Maunga Dawn Ceremony
1 January 2025
Location: Mt. Hikurangi, Ruatōrea
Gather at the base of Pakihiroa Station at 4am for a 45-minute drive up to Te Takapau a Maui Tikitiki near the summit of Maunga Hikurangi. The Hikurangi Maunga Dawn Ceremony will welcome the first sunrise of the year at the world’s first place to greet the sun. This powerful event includes karanga, karakia, haka, waiata, and kōrero on each of the Maui Whakairo, offering Ngāti Porou and visitors a chance to connect with iwi history and traditions while preserving mātauranga for future generations.
Fire in the Sky
1 January 2025
Location: Marina Park, Gisborne
Celebrate the first evening of 2025 with this annual riverside event. Fire in the Sky brings together locals and visitors for an unforgettable night of entertainment, featuring live music, activities, waka ama demonstrations and an incredible fireworks finale. With over 25 food and craft stalls lining all sides of the Tūranganui River, there’s plenty to see, do and taste. This free, family-friendly event has been a summer highlight for over 20 years – make sure to join the festivities!
Ngāti Porou Pā Wars
3 January 2025
Location: Whakarua Park, Ruatōrea
Pā Wars is the iwi event of the year that unites Ngāti Porou whānau in various sports and activities. Marae teams engage in everything from horse sports, netball, and kī-o-rahi to chess, wearable arts, and karaoke. Each year, a different hapū hosts the event, which promotes whānaungatanga and helps develop local leadership and event management skills.
Street Rod Nationals
16 – 20 January 2025
Location: Gisborne Show Grounds
Surf City Rod and Customs Club will host the 2025 Street Rod Nationals, featuring 250 custom cars, live entertainment and whānau-friendly activities. With awards celebrating the best in show across multiple categories and 350 attendees expected, the Street Rod Nationals is set to rev up excitement in Tairāwhiti!
While registrations are now closed, a public “Show n Shine” will take place in town on Saturday, 18 January, during which anyone can check out the vehicles.
First Light Marathon
25 January 2025
Location: Start and finish lines at Midway Beach
Get ready to run into the sunrise at the First Light Marathon! This event offers options for all fitness levels, including a full marathon, half marathon, and 6km fun run. With a course that hugs Gisborne’s stunning coastline, runners will be treated to breathtaking views as they race. It’s more than just a run – participants can enjoy a five-day itinerary featuring a pōwhiri, local excursions and a celebration dinner to top it all off. Whether you’re a seasoned athlete or a first-time runner, this event is an unmissable summer highlight.
Makorori First Light Longboard Classic
31 January – 2 February 2025
Location: Makorori Beach, Gisborne
The Makorori First Light Longboard Surfing Classic, New Zealand’s longest-running longboard competition, returns for its 30th annual event from 31 January to 2 February 2025. This ‘well-salted’ gathering celebrates the true spirit of aloha, featuring two days of surfing across multiple divisions and a social evening at a new eatery in Wainui.
Aotearoa Māori Bowls Tournament
8 – 10 February 2025
Location: Kahutia Bowling Club, Gisborne
The 2025 Aotearoa Māori Bowls Tournament, now in its 50th year, continues fostering Māori participation, focusing on engaging rangatahi to take part alongside their parents and grandparents. Returning to Tairāwhiti for the fifth time, the tournament’s mauri (life force) endures through the Tāonga Tuku Iho, passed annually to the host region.
New Zealand Surf Lifesaving Championships
6 – 9 March 2025
Location: Midway Beach, Gisborne
The 2025 New Zealand Surf Life Saving Championships return to Gisborne for the first time since 2020, with 1,500 athletes competing. From seasoned masters to first-timers, the event showcases surf boat crews, swimmers, sprinters and paddlers battling for national titles.