Visitors from across Te Ika-a-Māui (the North Island) have travelled to Rotorua this Matariki to experience a uniquely Aotearoa blend of Māori culture, geothermal wellness, local entertainment and storytelling beneath the stars at Wai Ariki Hot Springs and Spa.

Held across three evenings from 9 to 11 July, Wai Ariki’s limited-ticket Sip, Show & Soak experience welcomed manuhiri (guests) from Auckland, Hamilton and surrounding regions for an intimate celebration of the Māori New Year. 

Limited to just 16 guests each evening, the event offered a quieter and more reflective way to experience Rotorua’s Aronui Matariki Drone Show, one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s largest drone displays.

A restorative Matariki experience 

Guests began the evening with a hosted Restorative Journey through Wai Ariki’s geothermal hot springs, designed to calm the body and ground the wairua (spirit).

The experience also included a welcome drink, traditional kai, warm mulled wine and live entertainment from local Rotorua singer Tiana Hunter, before guests settled into an exclusive viewing area overlooking Lake Rotorua.

Comfortable seating and blankets created a cosy winter setting as the drone show brought the stars, stories and mātauranga Māori (Māori knowledge) of Matariki to life above the lake.

Matariki marks the Māori New Year and is traditionally a time to remember those who have passed, celebrate the present and prepare for the year ahead.

Grounded in cultural significance

Wai Ariki General Manager Debbie Robertson said the event reflected the spa’s wider kaupapa (purpose) of creating meaningful opportunities for rest, reconnection and cultural understanding.

“Matariki invites us to pause, reflect and reconnect with our whānau (family), te taiao, (natural world) and the wisdom of our tūpuna (ancestors).

“At Wai Ariki, we have the privilege of sharing this time in a way that is grounded in the legacy and mana of Ngāti Whakaue, while offering manuhiri a deeply restorative and memorable experience.

“Seeing people travel from across the North Island to celebrate with us shows there is a real desire for Matariki experiences that feel authentic, personal and connected to place,” Debbie said.

Creating meaningful experiences for guests

Wai Ariki Guest Experience Officer and event host Connor Rogers said the overwhelmingly positive response showed how meaningful the experience has become for guests.

“Sip, Show & Soak was created to give people a chance to pause, connect and celebrate the season in a meaningful way. Hearing that our manuhiri are already looking forward to next year, shows just how special the experience has become.

“One guest described it as ‘the perfect way to reflect on the past year and set intentions for the year ahead’, which captures exactly what we hoped to create.

“We’re incredibly proud of this year’s event and look forward to welcoming guests back next Matariki,” Connor concluded.

To learn more or experience Wai Ariki Hot Springs and Spa for yourself, visit the website.