Kiwiburn 2027

What it is

Kiwiburn is New Zealand’s regional Burning Man event, styled on the American festival but with its own atmosphere. It is a participatory festival: as the organisers put it, there are no spectators and no headline acts, just a temporary world built on creativity, gifting and radical self-expression. Kiwiburn 2027 runs from 27 January to 1 February on a farm the community calls the Paddock, near Hunterville.

What to expect

Everything you see is made by participants: art installations, theme camps, music, performance and workshops. Gifting replaces buying, so there is nothing for sale on site except bags of ice. Many people bring something to share, from coffee to cocktails, so a reusable cup is handy.

The 2027 theme imagines a future where technology starts to unravel society, and asks how we want to balance technology with community and the natural world. Organisers invite you to “embrace your inner faerie, cyberpunk, or anything in-between”.

Who it suits

Self-reliant campers who want to take part rather than watch. If you want a line-up, a food court and a bar, this is not that festival, and organisers say the only way to really understand Kiwiburn is to go.

Tickets

Most tickets are allocated to volunteers, theme camps and art grant teams, so volunteering is the recommended way in. A small number go through a general sale lottery that sorts applicants into the Secure Ticket Exchange Program (STEP) queue, with the first round released on 27 November 2026. If you reach the front, you are offered up to two tickets. Resale also runs through STEP. You need a Burner Profile and must complete the annual community survey before buying.

Getting there

The site is at 136 Cooks Road, Hunterville, about 190 km from Wellington and 460 km from Auckland. From the north, drive south on State Highway 1 through Mangaweka, stay on SH1 for another 22 km, turn left onto State Highway 54 towards Feilding, then take the first right onto Cooks Road and follow the signs. Palmerston North is the nearest large centre. Organisers encourage carpooling and shopping locally in the Rangitīkei on the way.

Where to stay

You camp on the Paddock for the week in a tent, camper or caravan. If you want a night in a bed on the way, Palmerston North and Whanganui are the closest larger towns.

What to bring

You need to be completely self-reliant for the week. Organisers suggest:

• Your ticket and photo ID
• A few litres of water per person for emergencies and the drive, plus containers to carry water from the free tap
• Enough food and drink for your group, and a drinking vessel
• Shelter and shade that can handle winds over 75 km/h and midday temperatures over 30°C, plus warm bedding for cold nights
• Rain gear and warm clothes for the evenings
• Torches, headlamps and lights to wear so you can be seen at night
• Sunscreen, hats and long sleeves, and repellent for sandflies
• A first aid kit, any medication, and rubbish and recycling bags to take everything home

Rules

Everyone gets a wristband at the gate. You can leave and come back for a $20 fee per person. Leave no trace: everything you bring in, you take out.

Make a trip of it

Hunterville is on State Highway 1 between Taupō and Wellington, so it slots into our 10-day North Island road trip. If you are travelling by campervan, read our freedom camping rules guide before the drive.