Māui Dolphin Day & the Recycled Raft Race 2026

Māui Dolphin Day is back!

Nau mai, Haere mai! Māui Dolphin Day is a collaborative community festival which highlights the endangered Popoto/Māui Dolphin, the importance of our marine environment and our community's creative spirit.
The first Māui Dolphin Day was in 2004 - that’s 22 years ago! This year also marks over 25 years of mahi by Xtreme Zero Waste and Whāingaroa Environment Centre.

Would your Club or organisation like to host an information or fundraising food stall?
APPLY HERE

Keen to join the Recycled Raft Race and get your name added to one of the trophies?
REGISTER HERE

Race categories are:

• 1st Trophy: came first in the race

• 2nd Trophy: came second in the race

• 3rd Trophy: came third in the race

• Best Raft Trophy: ‘Raddest Raft’

• Te Kaha Trophy: Best Junior Raft
  

Throughout the event, there will be live entertainment on stage, activities and performances around the site, food stalls fundraising for community groups, information from different nationwide organisations, ending with the famous Recycled Raft Race.

We will also be one of the national events wrapping up Seaweek 2026. Learn more here: https://seaweek.org.nz

Māui dolphins are the smallest out of the 30 identified dolphin species in the world's oceans. In the 1970s, it’s estimated there were around 1,600 Māui dolphins, now there are an estimated population of only 48-64 left. Māui dolphins are endemic to Aotearoa, and they should be treated no differently to the more effectively protected endemic species such as the iconic Kiwi, our internationally known symbol. Our focus is what coastal communities like ours can do to save and protect our neighbours the Māui Dolphin and more widely our marine environment.

Performances confirmed so far:

• Circus Aotearoa

• Lorenzen Bay Bombers (new band consisting of local Rangatahi)

• (watch this space)+

This is a zero waste event
This is a commerce-free event. Selling is permitted for fundraising not-for-profit only.

Ngā mihi nui:
Raglan Community Radio
https://raglanradio.com/
Raglan Volunteer Coastguard
https://www.raglancoastguard.org.nz
Raglan Surf Life Saving Club
https://www.raglansurflifesaving.org.nz
Raglan Kayaks
https://www.raglankayak.co.nz