Matangi Week 2025: The First Taste of a New Season

Every year, the first week of October marks something special at our Hastings Butchery — Matangi Week. It’s the launch of our new season, when the very first of our Premium Reserve Grade Angus beef is released to customers across New Zealand. This year, our chicory-finished lamb joins the line-up, making Matangi Week 2025 an even greater celebration of flavour.

Why Matangi Week Matters

We don’t rush nature. Our cattle are grown slowly and with care, reaching 24 to 32 months of age before they’re ready. Only at this stage are the cuts perfectly marbled, the texture just right, and the flavour at its peak. That’s why the annual Matangi Release Program always begins in the first week of October. It’s the moment when everything aligns for the season’s very best eating experience.

Key Dates for Matangi Week

• Orders close: 10am, Monday 29 September 2025
  
  

• Dispatch: Wednesday 1 October
  
  

• First deliveries: Thursday 2 October
  
  From then, we return to our weekly rhythm: orders close each Monday morning, dispatch Wednesday, and delivered via overnight courier on Thursday.
  
  

Pre-order Before Your Favourite Beef Cuts Run Out

Matangi beef offers an exceptional beef experience like no other and we often sell out of our top cuts at the very start of the season, so be sure to pre-order your favourites right now! Orders can be placed for every week of the season.

• Top Beef Steak Cuts – Bone-In Ribeye, Scotch Fillet, Eye Fillet, Sirloin, T-Bones
  
  

• Hidden Champions – Flat Iron, Picanha, Short Ribs, Teres Major
  
  

• Matangi Lamb  – our chicory-finished lamb, tender and mild, available October through mid-April.
  
  

Why is Matangi Beef Only Available October–July?

Our seasonal approach is deliberate. We calve twice per year, in September and February, and grow our Angus cattle for a minimum of 24 months before release. This allows us to supply you with Premium beef for around 42 weeks of the year.

Because we never buy animals, there are natural pauses in the cycle. For about 10 weeks each year, we step back to allow the next group of cattle to reach full maturity. It’s how we ensure that every cut you receive is true to Matangi quality — grass-fed and perfectly marbled.

How Long is the Season?

• Beef Season: October 2025 – Mid-July 2026
  
  

• Lamb Season: October 2025 – Mid-April 2026
  
  

Plenty of time to enjoy, but availability is always limited.

Special Deals

To celebrate Matangi Week 2025, all purchases & pre-orders (online or in store) before the end of ‘Matangi Week’ (3rd October) will go in the draw to win a set of 4 Matangi Steak Knives valued at $98.99! 

The winner will be drawn on the 4th of October and contacted directly. 

Order Early, Enjoy the Season

Matangi Week is more than just the start of a season — it’s a tradition. A celebration of quality, patience, and the natural rhythms that shape our Premium Angus beef and lamb.

Pre-orders are now open. Secure your favourite cuts through our online store or visit us in person at our Hastings Butchery and Showroom on Heretaunga Street East.