“Hawke’s Bay has so much potential, but the nightlife scene has been slowly fading over time,” she said.
“I wanted to help bring that energy back, creating events where people can connect, enjoy themselves, and actually have something to look forward to again.”
Barbarouses’ connection to life after hours goes back to her late teens, when she worked at Hastings bars, before building a banking career.
She stepped back from hospitality, but the pull of the industry never really left.
“I’ve always loved the nightlife side of things as well,” she said.
“When I’m not in mum mode, you’ll usually find me out in that environment.
“I don’t need to drink to have a good time, I just genuinely love the atmosphere, the music, and the energy of it all.”
These days, her life is a balancing act between late-night events and early-morning parenting of her son, Roman, 5, and daughter Maria, 2.
On event nights, her parents and sisters step in with bath time, bedtime and childcare, while she heads out to run the show.
“They’ve been super helpful for me to pursue what I want to do. I just couldn’t do it without them,” Barbarouses said.
“On Thursday, I went out and didn’t come home ‘til about 3am in the morning – to then having to get up at 6am to get them all ready for school.”
She said becoming a solo mother reshaped how she viewed work and the future.
“It just wasn’t going to work with me being at the bank ‘til 5.30pm. There was no flexibility for me to go part-time there … and that was a blessing in disguise,” Barbarouses said.
“I had to think about the future for my children, what that looks like, and also pursue something that I love to do. So, I just thought, ‘right, let’s do it’.”
While the move felt risky at first, it quickly became clear she had made the right call.
“It was very nerve-racking at the beginning, given that I’ve only ever worked and had that stability, so now I was sort of free floating.
“I’m a mother first, and that’ll always come first, and then whatever I do after that is essentially bringing everybody together and doing what I love as well.”
Alexia Barbarouses balances organising events with parenting her son, Roman, 5, and her daughter, Maria, 2.
Now, her new routine is built around late nights and packed dancefloors, but the behind-the-scenes is far less glamorous.
“There are hours of meetings, prep work, decorations, creating content and posters, editing, organising buses, wristbands, pick-up points, merch, securing support and sponsorships,” she said.
“It’s been a real hands-on process to build this from the ground up.”
Barbarouses works alongside a small group of DJs – including Shane Hawkins, known as DJ Hurricane – and collaborators, with support from a network of businesses helping deliver everything from transport to equipment and promotion.
Shane Hawkins, known as DJ Hurricane, and Alexia Barbarouses at one of the night events she has organised in Hawke’s Bay.
She says her long-term dream is to one day own a nightclub in Hawke’s Bay.
For now, she is focused on keeping the momentum going and changing what a night out in the Bay can look like.
“At every event I’m on the mic, reminding people that without the people, there is no nightlife.
“If people don’t show up and support it, it simply doesn’t exist.”
Barbarouses is now preparing another event on April 18 at the Boat Ramp in Napier, with bigger plans in the works for summer 2026.
“We all get caught up in life with work, kids, relationships and everything. It can start to feel a bit repetitive,” she said.
“I want to create something that gives people a reason to step away from that, even just for a night. It’s about that ‘you only live once’ mindset and leaving your worries behind and just enjoying the moment.
“I’m really excited about what we’re building and where it can go.”