With the Ōpōtiki Lantern Festival just three days away, there’s already a buzz in the air.

Ōpōtiki District Council’s experience and engagement coordinator, Iranui Huriwai, says anticipation is building as they prepare for the 2026 event, headline by Coterie, pictured above.

“The week before the Lantern Festival, with set-up and getting everything ready, is always such a buzz. The stage goes up by Friday and it’s great to see all the moving parts come together to get the site organised.

“At the same time, I know our talent, local and from further away, are getting ready and warming up their vocal cords. Ellaphon from The Voice Australia gave us a shout out on his socials, so we know he’s excited as well.

Coterie headlines alongside special performances from Ladz of the Mist, Ellaphon, Black Comet, Rei ft Just2Māori, DJ Luca and Raena Smith.

“The weather is looking amazing for Saturday, and we know that there are always hundreds of local whānau that come along and set up the picnic blankets for the afternoon of live local music and delicious food trucks,” said Ms Huriwai.

She urges people to grab their tickets online at Eventfinda or from the Ōpōtiki isite before Saturday it they want to avoid the higher price of buying at the gate. “I always say to my friends if you can save $10 on entry, that’s $10 more you have to spend on kids’ activities and treats.

“So, bring a blanket, sunscreen, a picnic or choose from one of our many kai stalls available. And some warmer gear for later in the evening when the big acts are on stage,” Ms Huriwai said.

The festival is a whānau-friendly event – no alcohol, drugs, smoking, pets/animals or gang patches on site.

Opotiki Lantern Festival

■ Where: Princess Street Reserve
■ When: Saturday, March 21 from 2pm
■ Ticket sales: Online at Eventfinda (plus booking fees):
■ Earlybird: Adults (18+) – $25 Youth// Teens (13–17) – $12 Family Pass (2 Adults + 2 Teens) – $60 Kids (12 & under) – free

Hardcopies available from the Ōpōtiki isite

■ Gate sales: Adults – $30 Youth/teens (13–17) – $15 Family Pass (2 Adults + 2 Teens) – $70 Kids (12 & under) – free

Lantern Festival entertainers

Coterie, a band of four brothers who were born in New Zealand but grew up in Perth, first broke into the New Zealand market in 2022 with their Platinum hit Cool It Down.

Immersed in a world of surf and art, the band have developed a blend of soulful rock music with perfect four-part harmonies

Since then, Coterie have toured with Six60 on their 2022/2023 New Zealand stadium tour and enjoyed sold out headline shows across Aotearoa and Australia.

Last year, Coterie won Songwriters of the Year at the Waiata Māori Music Awards and were nominated for Breakthrough Artist of the Year at the Aotearoa Music Awards and Best New Zealand Act at the MTV EMAs.

Most recently, they have played Homegrown in Hamilton.

Ellaphon, a New Zealand-based Māori soul/R&B artist gained prominence as a four-chair-turn contestant on Season 14 of The Voice Australia (2025), impressing the judges and the audience. He went on to reach the semi-finals.

He goes by “Ella” and is a youth worker at Zeal in West Auckland. With powerful vocals and a polished live sound, Ellaphon adds serious depth to this year’s programme.

Ladz of the Mist – Tūhoe natives Tanekaha Rangi and Huiarangi Rangihau – are a relatively new musical group from Rūātoki, who are gathering a loyal following as they share their stories through their music.

DJ talent DJ Luca captured national attention after posting daily online until earning his debut live mix on Mai FM.

Raena Smith is one of Ōpōtiki’s major talents, an absolute powerhouse with a stunning voice who lit up the Gourmet Canvas event earlier this summer

Black Comet is another homegrown talent, a multi-dimensional galactic funk collective founded by Laughton Kora (Kora, L.A.B, Fly My Pretties)

Rei ft Just2Māori, are the duo behind the powerful track Mana Wave, blending soulful vocals, modern sound and strong Māori storytelling.