Halloween Map NZ founders make nationwide service completely free

With Halloween just days away, a new interactive trick-or-treating map is attracting attention across Aotearoa, and its creators have announced a decision that will be welcomed by families nationwide.

The founders of HalloweenMap.co.nz, Auckland couple Simona and Edvardas, have confirmed to The Advocate that they are scrapping their planned $1 registration fee for Halloween day.

Originally, families registering before 31 October could use the platform for free, while those signing up on Halloween itself would have paid a small one-off fee to help cover technical costs.

However, following their engagement with The Advocate ahead of this collaborative story being published across The Waikato Advocate and The Ngāmotu Advocate the couple have decided to remove that charge entirely.

It means families across New Zealand can register and use Halloween Map NZ free of charge, including on Halloween night itself.

The founders will instead cover the costs of operating the project personally.

The announcement comes as households across the motu join the new platform, designed to make trick-or-treating safer, more comfortable and more inclusive for children.

And behind the technology is a simple family story involving a little girl dressed as a fairy princess.

From a fairy princess to a nationwide Halloween project

Speaking in an exclusive written interview for this collaborative news feature, Simona and Edvardas explained how an ordinary Halloween outing last year inspired them to create something that could benefit families throughout the country.

The husband-and-wife team, who both have backgrounds in technology, had taken their four-year-old daughter trick-or-treating, dressed as a little fairy princess.

What should have been an evening of family fun quickly revealed an unexpected challenge.

“We were surprised by how difficult it was to find participating houses while avoiding decorations that were too frightening for her age, particularly those depicting violence,” the couple explained.

Like many parents of younger children, they found themselves trying to balance their daughter’s excitement with the reality that some Halloween displays can be particularly frightening.

They also struggled to know which households were participating and which preferred not to be disturbed.

“With our backgrounds in technology, we thought we could create something useful, initially just for our own family. But then we realised other parents might appreciate it too.”

That idea became Halloween Map NZ, an interactive online platform allowing families to identify participating households before heading out trick-or-treating.

Knowing where children are genuinely welcome

For parents across Waikato and Taranaki, the idea is already receiving positive feedback.

As part of this collaborative feature, readers of The Waikato Advocate and The Ngāmotu Advocate shared their thoughts on the new platform and what it could mean for their families.

One reader raised an issue that many parents may recognise: the uncomfortable experience of children approaching a home where Halloween isn’t welcome.

“There’s nothing worse than going to a house as a child and feeling like you’ve done something wrong because some houses don’t want to be involved in it.”

It’s an experience the map could help families avoid, allowing them to identify homes where residents have actively registered their intention to participate.

Another reader welcomed the reassurance the platform could provide.

“It allows children to visit the places they’ll be welcomed which makes me feel a lot more comfortable when taking my children out trick or treating.”

The feedback reflects an important aspect of the initiative.

Halloween should be an enjoyable experience for participating children and households alike, without placing expectations on neighbours who choose not to celebrate.

Making Halloween more inclusive for children with allergies

For Simona and Edvardas, helping children feel included goes beyond identifying welcoming homes.

The website allows households to indicate what kinds of treats they plan to provide, including gluten-free options, while families can filter participating addresses according to their needs.

“We also wanted children with food allergies or dietary restrictions to feel included in the celebrations,” the founders explained.

“We’re constantly exploring ways to make the map more accessible and useful for different families.”

It’s a feature welcomed by readers across the regions.

“There’s a lot of children with allergies and this provides parents the peace of mind to know which houses can cater for those needs,” one reader explained.

While parents will still need to check ingredients and individual dietary requirements, the ability to identify potentially suitable households before leaving home provides an additional planning tool.

Too scary? The map can help with that too

Another feature allows participating households to indicate how frightening their Halloween decorations are.

Families with young children can use this information to choose homes with more age-appropriate displays, while older children who enjoy a fright can look for something more adventurous.

It addresses the very problem that prompted Simona and Edvardas to create the platform after their daughter’s Halloween outing.

The map also allows homeowners to update their status when they run out of lollies.

That means families can see which homes are still handing out treats and avoid unnecessary visits to households whose supplies have been exhausted.

For families planning an evening of trick-or-treating across Waikato, Taranaki, and elsewhere in Aotearoa, the platform offers a practical new way to plan their night.

Completely free for families across New Zealand

Perhaps the biggest development ahead of this year’s Halloween celebrations is the founders’ decision to make the entire service available without a registration charge.

Under the original arrangements, anyone signing up on Halloween day would have paid a one-off $1 fee.

The fee was intended to contribute towards the technical costs associated with operating the platform.

However, in an exclusive update shared ahead of this story’s publication by The Waikato Advocate and The Ngāmotu Advocate, the founders confirmed they would waive the charge.

The service will now be free for families registering before Halloween and on Saturday, 31 October itself.

Instead of asking users to contribute towards operating expenses, Simona and Edvardas will meet the costs personally.

The decision reinforces the family-focused nature of the project, which the couple originally developed for their own daughter’s enjoyment.

While the map is free to use, registration remains necessary to access participating households, a measure the founders say is intended to help protect household privacy.

Families welcome the focus on safety

For readers of The Waikato Advocate and The Ngāmotu Advocate, knowing which houses are participating could also bring additional peace of mind.

“It’s going to be a great tool for our family and I like that it promotes safety,” one reader said.

Others highlighted the importance of children feeling comfortable and welcomed while trick-or-treating.

“It’s great for our kids to know which houses they can visit and feel comfortable visiting,” another reader explained.

Although the platform doesn’t replace adult supervision, road safety or checking that treats are appropriate for children, it gives families more information to help plan their celebrations.

A little idea making a difference across Aotearoa

Despite the growing attention, Simona and Edvardas remain focused on why they started the project.

They’re hoping more households will register before Saturday so families can benefit from a wider selection of participating homes.

“The more households that join, the more useful the map becomes,” they explained.

“It’s been wonderful seeing communities across Aotearoa getting involved, and we’re hoping even more people will join in and help make Halloween a lovely experience for children everywhere.”

With Halloween falling on a Saturday this year, families have an opportunity to enjoy the celebrations without the usual pressures of a school night.

And with the removal of the planned registration charge, anyone wanting to use the map can now do so without paying.

For the Auckland couple behind the project, it all comes back to the experience of one little girl dressed as a fairy princess.

“Ultimately, it’s a small family project built around a simple idea: Halloween should be fun for everyone.”

Thanks to that simple idea, and the couple’s decision to fund the platform themselves, families throughout New Zealand now have another free tool to help make Halloween a special occasion.

How to register for Halloween Map NZ

Families and participating households can visit www.halloweenmap.co.nz to sign up.

Homeowners can register their participating address, indicate the types of treats available and select the scariness level of their decorations.

Families can explore the map, identify participating households and plan their Halloween activities.

Registration is completely free, including on Saturday, 31 October 2026.

A collaborative news feature

Proudly published in partnership by The Waikato Advocate & The Ngāmotu Advocate

This collaborative article includes an exclusive written interview with Halloween Map NZ founders Simona and Edvardas, whose surnames have been withheld at their request to protect their family’s privacy. Community perspectives were gathered from readers across Waikato and Taranaki. The founders’ decision to waive the planned Halloween-day registration charge was confirmed ahead of publication.