The Ōtaki Kite Festival is gearing up to deliver a free family extravaganza like no other with its return to Ōtaki Beach on the weekend of March 8-9.

The annual event has been creating a spectacle in the skies since 2013 and is renowned  for delivering two days of community fun that includes the largest selections of kites in one place in New Zealand. Performers, music, and food trucks come together to create a fun festival atmosphere.

The festival is held on and around Ōtaki Beach, this year on Saturday and Sunday March 8-9, from 10am-4pm.

The New Zealand Kite Flyers Association and Peter Lynn Kites

will be onsite flying their huge inflatable kites. International guest flyers include Robert Brasington, Aneta Zurawski, Peter Carmen, plus Jo and Ricky Baker, all from Australia.

“It’s exciting to be able to bring such quality kite flyers to New Zealand to showcase their awe-inspiring kites,” says festival director Kirsty Doyle. “The skies will be full of spectacular kites in the form of everything from huge inflatable whales and dragons, to artistic kites.”

The event this year will feature more than 50 kite flyers delivering a diverse range of kites.

A crowd favourite is sure to be the colourful creations of Kiwi kite flyer Malcom Hubbert from Northland.. His bright sea creatures always spark imaginations young and old. Other festival highlights include local musicians and the popular Taiko Drummers.

A new addition to the festival this year is a series of kite workshops for schools, supported by Creative New Zealand. Children will be able to get hands on and create their own kite via special workshops hosted by international duo Jo and Ricky Baker from Australia, who run Kites 4 Kids.

Ōtaki Promotions Group chair Ian Carson says the free event is a great way to draw visitors to the district, and bring the local community down to Ōtaki Beach. 

“We are proud to continue to deliver one of the biggest events on the Kāpiti Coast,” he says. “The Ōtaki Kite Festival has something for everyone. In addition to our fantastic kite displays we have a variety of entertainment, market stalls, food, and the Kelly and Co Big Dig, which is a favourite with the kids. There are some great prizes.”

Ian is full of praise for the energetic team of volunteers who have been working hard behind the scenes.

“There’s no reward for them other than knowing they’re contributing to a fantastic community event.”

 To find out more about the event programme and visiting the Ōtaki Kite Festival, see Ōtaki Kite Festival on Facebook.

About the festival

The Ōtaki Kite Festival is the largest of its kind in New Zealand. It’s free to attend, making it an ideal family-friendly event. It’s renowned not only for the spectacular kites on display, but also the magnificent natural backdrop of the ocean and Kāpiti Island.

About the Ōtaki Promotions Group

The Ōtaki Promotions Group was established in 2012. Its  purpose is to “promote Ōtaki and its environs as vibrant and attractive to locals, visitors and businesses”.

While best known for organising the annual kite festival, the ŌPG organises the Ōtaki Community Expo, which showcases many different groups and clubs in the Ōtaki Memorial Hall each year in September, and the Christmas Wonderland in the Ōtaki College Hall.