How the iconic Kiwi mullet made its way onto the menu at Maccas
• April 22, 2026
McDonald’s has embraced the McMullet after it was trending on social media, coined as the ‘Burger in front – party out back.’ Photo: Supplied
After it went viral on social media, McDonald’s welcomed the McMullet burger, which it offered free to anyone with a mullet at its Penrose store on Saturday.
A social media account @makethemcmullet kicked off the trend, inspired by the classic Kiwi hairstyle, by hanging an additional piece of cheese out the back of a standard cheeseburger.
Others hopped on board the trend across Instagram and TikTok, and through April 2026, it gained significant traction, with many influencers claiming it deserved a spot on the McDonalds menu.
Social-media creator Leon Pearson made a video trialling a McMullet and ended up an ambassador at Saturday’s event in Penrose.
Pearson said the event drew a good turnout, and people who rocked a mullet got a free McMullet burger.
"We had all types of different mullets . . . skullet ones, shaggy ones, and we had plenty of long ones down the back,” he said.
McMullet Ambassador Leon Pearson (right) was at the event and said the variety of mullets was great to see. Photo: Supplied
Having had a mullet himself since 2018, Pearson said he had tried many different versions of the hairstyle.
"It's more of a lifestyle, not a haircut now, I think."
McDonalds gave the McMullet a tagline, dubbing it "burger in front, party out the back".
In a media release, McDonald’s New Zealand marketing director Luke Rive said: “We’re always looking for ways to have a bit of fun and bring our fans along for the ride.”
The mullet first appeared in the 1970s, made popular by rock stars and athletes.
Its popularity peaked in the 1980s but slowly tapered away in mainstream society, but continuing to be a loved hairstyle among "bogan" subcultures of New Zealand.
In recent years, the mullet has made a comeback in Aotearoa, and is often sported by rugby players and young people.
Pearson said the country loved it because Kiwis were "a bit more relaxed, and I think everyone just enjoys the chaotic fun with the mulle"t.
"The lifestyle of the mullet is so big in New Zealand,” he said.
Mullet competition winner Wesley Welsford was awarded a year’s worth of cheeseburgers and mullet haircuts. Photo: Supplied
The one-off Penrose event saw Wesley Welsford take home a year’s worth of McDonald’s cheeseburgers and free mullet haircuts for his impressive locks.
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