Founder Returns as Chieftain of 15th Hororātā Highland Games

15 October 2026

When Mark Stewart raises a ceremonial sword at the Hororātā Highland Games next month, it will be one he knows well. He donated it to the Games in 2012.

Stewart, a founding trustee of the event, has been named Chieftain of the 15th Hororātā Highland Games, to be held at the Hororātā Domain in inland Canterbury on Saturday 7 November.

He is also using the role to launch an appeal to restore the historic Hororātā Hall, the community trust's next major project.

Born out of an earthquake

The Games began as a response to disaster.

The magnitude 7.1 Greendale earthquake struck in September 2010. Its epicentre was close to Hororātā, and local farmland, homes and buildings were badly hit.

Stewart, who has lifelong family connections to the district and farms at Windwhistle, was among a group of locals who met afterwards to work out how the rural community could recover.

He says he pushed the group to think beyond repairs, towards something that would bring visitors into the district, create opportunities and put the area on the map.

Those conversations led to the creation of the Hororātā Community Trust and the Highland Games. About 10,000 people attended the first Games, just 15 months after the earthquake.

"None of us really knew where it was going to lead when we started out," Stewart said. "We just knew we needed to get people working together and create something positive for the district."

Fifteen years as a trustee

Stewart served as a trustee for 15 years before stepping down in 2025. He remains part of Clan Hororātā, the name given to the volunteers and community behind the Games.

He credits those volunteers for the event's success.

"The volunteers are the heart of Clan Hororātā and they've made the Games what they are today," he said. "It will be a real privilege to lead them as Chieftain this year."

In Highland tradition, the Chieftain leads their clan. Stewart will be honoured during the midday Welcoming Ceremony.

The next project: the Hall

The trust is now turning to the Hororātā Hall, a historic building it plans to restore and develop for future generations.

Executive officer Cindy Driscoll says the project needs the same thinking that created the Games.

"Fifteen years ago that meant looking beyond earthquake recovery and asking what we could create that would make a lasting difference to our district," she said.

She says the aim now is "not just fixing a building", but making sure the Hall serves the community for generations.

Stewart says he will lead the fundraising effort and is asking others to back it, whether their connection is to Hororātā, rural Canterbury or simply to strong communities.

"This is our Hall, our story, and now it's our turn to secure its future," he said.

What we don't know yet

The trust has not said how much the restoration will cost, how much needs to be raised, or what condition the Hall is in. It has also not set out a timeline or explained how people can donate.

Those details will matter. Restoring a heritage building can be expensive, and small rural communities often depend on a mix of local donations, grants and fundraising events to get there.

Games details

Detail	Information
Event	15th Hororātā Highland Games
Date	Saturday 7 November 2026
Venue	Hororātā Domain, Canterbury
Tickets	On sale now online, no gate sales
Children	Under 16 free

Tickets must be bought before the day, so anyone planning to go should not turn up expecting to pay at the gate.

The Games also fall on general election day. Anyone planning a day out at Hororātā may want to vote early. Advance voting opens on 26 October.

Why it matters

The Hororātā Highland Games is a rare example of a community event born from disaster that has lasted. It began as a way to bring people back to a shaken district and has become a fixture on Canterbury's calendar.

The question now is whether the same community spirit can raise the money to save the Hall. Stewart is betting that it can.

Source: Hororātā Community Trust.