Invercargill City Library's Aurora Catu dishes up another serve of hot tomato soup while Volunteen volunteer Elvis Kunisch, 14, looks on. PHOTO: TONI MCDONALD

Staff at the Invercargill Library decided school holidays would also be a good time to roll out some free steaming hot soup to begin Matariki celebrations.

Library community engagement and programming lead Katie Greene said 2026’s Matariki theme was about people in the waka coming to celebrate together.

"So this is a way for the public to come together and just have free soup and something they enjoy."

Multiple staff members had pitched in to make a variety of mouthwatering home-made brews which included tomato, lentil, chicken and vegetable and beef bone soup.

Bread rolls were also offered to accompany each serving to "give bang for your buck", Miss Greene said.