About

Gunn’s Bush Camp | 5-8 February 2026

This Festival event will have most of the familiar well loved folk festival features-concerts, blackboard sessions, blind date concerts, dance, jamming and a water fight for those with fond memories of the Tui New Year festival.

Book Early for the Waitangi Summer Festival!!
This year Waitangi day falls on a Friday, so the“formal” festival will run from 7pm on Thursday 5th to 11am on Sunday 8th when we need to pack up and leave the site.

Our guests this year are The Port Hillbillies.

Every Tuesday evening, they slope from the shadows of the Port Hills. One American, Justin Rogers, on mandolin, guitar and vocals. One Aussie, Gary Elford, on guitar, acoustic bass and vocals. They meet up with a six-toed Kiwi singer, banjo and guitar player, Steve Stern, to share their love of Bluegrass, Old Timey and Americana music, as well as Jane's chocolate chip cookies and Milo.

Playing together now for over six years, they have formed into a well-balanced instrumental and vocal trio, driven by Steve’s banjo playing and Justin’s sympathetic and innovative mandolin ornamentation.

Gary’s contribution on guitar and bass pulls the whole thing together into the tight unit that is the Port Hillbillies.
They play a range of songs and tunes from toe-tapping, recognisable standards to some obscure songs from other genres that are given the Porthillbillies once over.

Our other guests will be Progeny from Christchurch.

A father-son-father-son 4-piece band with Sean and Roddy Macpherson covering vocals, piano, guitar, ukulele and bass and Dan and Eddie Park covering violin, viola and percussion (Not all simultaneously! The name seemed amusing at the time, but only to the dads, and now it’s stuck.)

They play a mixture of originals and covers with genres ranging from pop, rock, blues, jazz, folk... They are looking forward to playing for you at the festival. (Rosie and Martin recruited them for the festival after hearing them play an exquisite version of Caledonia at a variety concert, and can vouch for their
musicianship and entertainment value)

There will also be jam sessions, blackboard concerts, humour and poetry events as well as blind dates (musical ones, that is) and a water fight.

This is a small festival with a site limit, so please book early to ensure a spot.

Costs have increased slightly this year as the site price per night has gone up.

Full Weekend Pass includes either camping fee or bunk room accommodation and festival attendance.

2026 Programme

Location: Gunn’s Bush Camp, Waimate

Dates: Thursday 5 – Sunday 8 February 2026

Thursday, February 5 – Arrival and Welcome

From 2:00 PM – Site available for arrival and setup

From 5:00 PM – Registration opens

See organisers Rosie and Martin for allocation of bunk rooms and powered sites.

Please check before parking or plugging in, as powered sites are booked in advance.

The registration desk will be in the main hall if the weather allows, or under the trees near the hall if it's hot.

Evening: Informal jamming and catch-up session

Friday, February 6 – Music and Merriment

9:30 AM – Blackboard/Themed concerts and Blind Date lists open in the main hall

10:00 AM – Blackboard Concert 1

11:00 AM – Marcus Turner Tribute Concert

12:00 PM – Lunch

12:45 PM – Blind Date draw and meet with Blind Date groups

1:15–2:15 PM – Guest Artist Concert: Progeny

2:45–4:15 PM – Songs of Woe and Retribution – a chance to share vengeful, doleful folk or blues songs

4:45 PM – Waimate Water Fight – North of Waitaki River vs South of Waitaki

(All ages welcome; bring your own water weaponry)

5:15 PM – Dinner break

7:30 PM – Evening Ceilidh

Saturday, February 7 – Fun and Folk

10:30 AM–12:00 PM – Comedy Spot – Humorous songs and poems (original or borrowed)

12:00 PM – Lunch break

12:45–1:45 PM – Blackboard Concert 2

2:00–3:00 PM – Guest Artist Concert: The Port Hillbillies

3:15–4:15 PM – Songs of Joy and Redemption

4:30–5:30 PM – Blind Date Concert

7:00 PM – Evening Concert – Guests and invited spots

10:00 PM onwards – Jamming and sessions

Sunday, February 8 – Farewell and Departure

Pack up, clean up, and prepare for travel home.

Please vacuum bunk rooms before leaving and prop mattresses against the wall. Take all rubbish away.

Site must be cleared by 2:00 PM.

General Notices

• Fridges: Label food clearly and respect others’ items.
• Kitchen and Facilities: Leave cooking, eating, and washing areas clean and tidy.
• Fire Ban: Total fire ban in place. Gas barbecues may be used with personal gas bottles. Leave clean for the next users.
• Dogs: Only well-behaved dogs allowed, by prior negotiation with camp owners.
• Extended Stays: Arriving early or staying extra nights must be arranged and paid directly with Gunn’s Bush camp owners.

Enjoy a weekend of music, laughter, and community at the Waimate Summer Festival 2026!

Date

Location

Get directions

Gunns Bush Camp
36 Gunns Bush Road, Hunter, Waimate 7978

Contact Event Organiser