Tuesday February 24th 2026
The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo meets Haka in Auckland
Written by Midlothian View Reporter, Liam Eunson
The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo brings its three unforgettable nights of signature spectacle at Eden Park in Auckland to a close, following a near sell-out run in Brisbane.
More than 1,000 performers from 15 countries lit up the famous All Blacks stadium in The Heroes Who Made Us, celebrating 75 years of Tattoo tradition with stirring massed pipes and drums, precision drill, and a powerful fusion of Scottish and Kiwi culture.
Dame Cindy Kiro, Governor-General of New Zealand, took the salute on Opening Night as audiences witnessed a breathtaking showcase of cultural heritage, pride and talent on a truly global stage.
Welcomed with open arms in New Zealand, the Edinburgh Tattoo explained that one particularly special welcome came at the start of the show where a powhiri was performed.
A powhiri is a formal welcome ceremony performed by the hosts to the visitors, which in this case was the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo and Creative Director Alan Lane
Alan Lane, Creative Director at The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, explained:
“We were welcomed in Auckland like we were coming home. The determination & talent of the cast and the addition of local Auckland talent ensured that audiences could only see this show here.
“A unique experience. And they cheered us on throughout the 3 shows. We’ll never forget our time at Eden Park.”
A pōwhiri is a vital, sacred ritual designed to remove tapu (restriction) from visitors, making them noa (free from restriction/equal). This incredibly moving welcome is packed full of meaning for New Zealanders and was a real honour for us to receive.
This traditional welcome ceremony took place in the centre of Eden Park, as part of the opening of the Show and was a creative collaboration between NWO and the Tattoo. Over the last year the two communities had worked closely together including a workshop with performers at NGW marae (community meeting ground).
The shows were explained as a huge success in both Auckland and Brisbane, bringing Scottish culture and tradition to audience in New Zealand.
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