The Spinoff’s top picks of Matariki events from around the motu.
“Cbk to get up nice and early for this !!”
It was Tuesday evening when the wheels of organisation in my friend’s brain started turning. It was chilly, but I was sweating from a particularly hard gym class, fatigued, and therefore an easy target. I did not think too much about how watching the sunrise after certain processes like parking and shuttles necessary to big gatherings, means getting up much, much earlier than the sun. What I did think, and still think, is that it’s about bloody time I did something traditional for Matariki. So far it has been much like any other long weekend. A time for rest and fun, perhaps with a dash of looking up at the stars and pondering the year ahead. A bit of spring cleaning and a visit to some artistic light installations. But never have I really seen that cluster of whetū, never have I heard the karakia, waiata and karanga as the sky lightens, and never have I seen, and smelled, a hautapu.
Tomorrow morning at 4:30am, I’ll have on my polar fleece pants, my skiing jacket and a woollen beanie. My friend will pick me up in her little silver car and then we will make our way to join about 2,000 people at Takaparawhau to farewell the past year and welcome the new. The celebration seems like a much better way to set up the year than getting inebriated. A crisp re-start on the darkest day. No matter where you are, there will be a celebration nearby, and if you’ve never been before, don’t worry, me neither. Mānawatia a Matariki!
Te Hiku
Maheatai Reserve, Taipa Point
5:30–8:30am Friday June 20
Free
Experience the magic of hautapu, uplifting mihi and a hearty hāngī.
Hokianga
Art: Te Iringa a Tūpoto
Village Arts, 1376 Kohukohu Road, Kohukohu
10am-3pm Tuesday-Sunday until July 27
Free
A beautiful exhibition with works from many Ngai Tupoto artists including Ana Iti, Nikau Hindin, Fiona Gates and Henare Rawiri.
Waitangi
Waitangi Treaty Grounds free open day
Waitangi Treaty Grounds, Tau Henare Drive, Waitangi
Sunday, June 22
Free
Visit the grounds and see the two museums, Te Whare Rūnanga, the Treaty House and the traditional Māori waka.
Kawakawa
Film: Kaikohe Demolition
Atea-Town Square, 71 Gillies Street, Kawakawa
6:30pm Friday, June 20
Free
Bring a comfy cushion and blanket to watch this incredible documentary from 2004.
Whangārei
Film: Alien Weaponry, Kua Tupu Te Ara
Forum North, 7 Rust Avenue, Whangārei
6pm & 8pm Thursday, June 19
$10-$15
Whangarei Film Society presents a screening of the film documenting the band’s journey from its formation in 2010 by Waipū brothers Henry and Lewis De Jong.
Tāmaki Makaurau
Takaparawhau, Bastion Point. Park at Grammar Tec fields carpark, 27 Reihana Street, Ōrākei
5:30am Paraire 20 Hune
Free
This public cultural ceremony will be led by Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei and will include karakia, karanga, waiata, watching the sunrise and a hautapu – a ceremony consisting of a traditional earth oven (umu kohukohu whetū) and offering to the stars.
Animation, installation: Dive into the Magic of Te Waihorotiu
St Kevins Arcade, 183 Karangahape Road, CBD, Auckland
4-10pm Friday, June 20
Free
All of Karangahape Road is coming alive this weekend, but our pick of the bunch is a projected animation by Tāmaki-based illustrator Ezra Whittaker. Lay down and watch a story about a stream that once ran down the Queen Street gully
Music: Marlon Williams, Te Whare Tiiwekaweka Tour
Spark Arena, 42/80 Mahuhu Crescent, Parnell, Auckland
7pm Saturday, Jun 21
$89-$130
Our angel Marlon will be joined by The Yarra Benders, KOMMI and the Melbourne based kapa haka rōpū Ngā Mātai Pūrua.
Kirikiriroa
Festival: Maanawatia a Matariki
Innes Common, Hamilton 3204
3-7pm Friday, June 20
Free
“Wrap up warm, rally your whaanau and friends together, and enjoy a night of rekareka (fun) and entertainment.”
Hawke’s Bay
Art: Waipuna-ā-rangi, A Starlit Journey
– Masonic Park, 59 The Strand, Tauranga CBD
– Te Papa o ngā Manu Porotakataka, 137 Maunganui Road, Mount Maunganui
– Western Bay Museum, 32 Main Road, Katikati
– Te Kete Matariki, Jubilee Park, Te Puke
Anytime until Sunday, June 23
Free
View 10 digital sculptures by contemporary Māori artists through your smartphone, each at a point along a trail.
Rotorua
Sir Howard Morrison Centre, 1170 Fenton St, Rotorua
10am Sunday, June 22
$10
“The Glow Show tells the story of te kāhui whetū o Matariki (the star cluster/whānau of Matariki) as they gather to light up the skies for te tau hou Māori (Māori New Year). But where is the smallest star, Waipuna-a-rangi? Could the little one be lost in the moana?”
Ngāmotu
TSB Festival of Lights Winter Pop-Up
Huatoki Plaza, Puke Ariki Landing, Ariki Street, the Coastal Walkway, New Plymouth CBD
5-10pm June 19-22
Free
Te Whanganui-a-Tara
Workshop: Pōhutukawa Memory Bracelets
Te Waka Huia Wellington Museum, 3 Jervois Quay, Wellington Central
10am–12pm Saturdays in June
Free
Create a braided bracelet to honour the memory of a loved one and learn about the story of Pōhutukawa, the star that helps guide spirits onwards during Matariki.
Film: Mana Moana Pōneke
Whairepo Lagoon, Wellington
6pm-9pm daily, June 19-22
Free
A series of indigenous short films in a 40 minute loop will be projected onto a water screen made of thousands of water droplets.
Marlborough
Ceremony: Rangitāne Annual Matariki Gathering
Wairau Bar, Wairau Bar Rd, Blenheim
5:30am Friday, June 20
Free
“Although it may be a chilly start to the day, we will warm up with a cooked breakfast and a warm cuppa. Ngā mihi nui o te Tau Hou Māori e te iwi.”
Ōtautahi
Dance: Pepe
Cloisters Studio, ground floor in the former School of Engineering heritage building, The Arts Centre, 2 Worcester Boulevard
10am-9.30pm June 19-22
Free
A performance channeling Hineraukatauri, atua of traditional musical instruments and kaitiaki of all flutes or kōauau from the taonga pūoro family.
Tāhuna
Festival: Matariki with Mana Tāhuna
Queenstown Memorial Centre, 1 Memorial Street Queenstown
5:30pm Thursday, 19 June
$65
The Harmonic Resonators, famous for their heart-warming renditions of Waiata Māori and after-party classics, will sort the tunes and hāngī will be available.
Ōtepoti
Logan Park, Dunedin North
6pm and 8:30pm Saturday, June 21
Free
I would not usually recommend anything to do with drones, but this drone light show seems like its going to be really cute. If it’s not there are other things on too – fire performers, magical fairies and kapa haka.
Ceremony: Matariki Ahuka Nui
Otago Museum, 419 Great King Street, Dunedin
6:45am Friday, June 20
Free
The ceremony will include a whakamaumahara to remember those who have passed away. You are invited to bring a printed photo of a passed loved one and to speak their name aloud in remembrance.
Gore
Gore Public Gardens, 28 Ardwick St, Gore
5pm Friday, June 19
Free
Light displays throughout the gardens, glow fairies, a princess, a fire performer, free neon face painting and lots of food trucks!
