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Mataraki Herenga Waka, Tāmaki Herenga Tangata
"Matariki, the mooring place of many canoes, Tāmaki the gathering place of many people"
The rise of Matariki in the winter skies above Aotearoa is an important time in the Māori maramataka (lunar calendar) as it signifies the start of the Māori new year or ‘te mātahi o te tau’. For Māori, astronomy is interwoven into all facets of life. Our tupuna would observe the night sky, charting star and planet movements, the relationship of the stars and planets to the moon and sun, while also noting what was happening on the whenua (land) and in the moana (ocean), lakes, and awa (rivers).
Matariki has different names around the world. In Europe, it is called by its ancient Greek name Pleiades or the Seven Sisters. In Hawaiian it is
Makahiki, and in Japan it is Subaru, meaning gathered together.
Matariki is a time for people to gather, to remember those who have passed, to celebrate the present and look to plan for the future.
We are proud to host the 2026 Matariki National Broadcast in partnership with the Ministry for Culture and Heritage, welcoming people from across the motu to our whenua. Guided by the 2026 theme, Matariki Herenga Waka – For Everyone, it reflects our continued commitment to manaaki and share the celebration of Matariki across Tāmaki Makaurau and Aotearoa.
Nau mai e ngā iwi kia mānawatia a Matariki.
Matariki 2026 Events
Join us for a splendour of special 2026 Matariki events. There is something for everyone.
E rere ana ngā whakamānawa ki ngā kaitautoko. Ko te mihi o te ngākau ki a koutou: Go Media, Ōrākei Local Board, NZ International Convention Centre, Waitematā Local Board, Sky TV, oOh! - Out of Home.
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Planting Day
Join us for our annual Matariki Planting Day, supported by the Ōrākei Local Board. This is a special opportunity for everyone in Tāmaki to come together and give back to whenua during the Matariki season. This year, we will be planting around 3000 native plants on Takaparawhau, Bastion Point 🌱 📆 Saturday 20 June | 9:30am - 1pm 📍Meet at Te Pou Whakairo (59B Kitemoana Street, Ōrākei) Kai & coffee will be provided! See you all there! -
Hautapu Ā-Motu
This year, Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei welcome you to join us as we host the National Hautapu Ceremony. Gather at dawn on Takaparawhau as we mark the Māori New Year through a sacred Hautapu ceremony—honouring a time of reflection, renewal, and connection with the rising of Matariki. Mānawa maiea te putanga o Matariki. Mānawa maiea te mātahi o te tau. | Friday 10 July, 2026 | From 5:30am | Takaparawhau, Bastion Point – Michael Joseph Savage Park | Kore utu | Free -
Mahuta Concert
Come and celebrate the Matariki season with us at MAHUTA! ✨ Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei is proud to present an unforgettable night of music, bringing together some of the best kaiwaiata of Te Ao Māori. Curated by Majic Pāora, MAHUTA is a celebration of our voices, our stories and our people. Bring your whānau, bring your friends - this is a night for all of Tāmaki Makaurau! 📍Te Paepae Theatre, NZICC | 18 July | Doors 7:00pm 🎟️ Tickets on sale soon. We can't wait to see you there! -
Matariki Twilight Markets
Celebrate Te Mātahi o Te Tau and the rising of Matariki in the heart of Te Tōangaroa. Enjoy a vibrant twilight market filled with local kai trucks, mahi toi, live entertainment and more. | Saturday 27 June, Friday 10 July, Saturday 25 July | 4PM – 9PM | Māhuhu ki te Rangi Park, Te Tōangaroa | Free entry | Purchases available at stalls -
Tūhono
As the nights grow longer, the city lights up for Matariki, we look forward to celebrating with everyone. Join us and experience Tūhono, an immersive light trail connecting Te Kōmititanga, Takutai Square, Beach Road and Māhuhu ki te Rangi Park. Gather your whānau and friends and discover a new way to experience the heart of the city after dark. 26 JUNE - 18 JULY | Te Kōmititanga through to Te Tōangaroa
Te Iwa o Matariki
Matariki is a cluster of 9 whetū (stars). Each star has its own special characteristic which Māori honour and acknowledge.
PŌHUTUKAWA connects us to our loved ones that have passed on.
TUPUĀNUKU connects us to Papatūānuku (Earth) and determines the bounty of food the grows in the earth, like kumara.
TUPUĀRANGI is connected to birds and other elevated foods such as fruits and berries from trees.
WAITĪ is connected to freshwater and the food sources that are sustained by those waters.
WAITĀ is connected to sea water and all that is in that domain.
WAIPUNĀRANGI is connected to the rain that we experience throughout the year.
URURANGI connects us to the different winds and determines the nature of these winds.
HIWA-I-TE-RANGI is connected to our dreams and aspirations.
MATARIKI is connected to the health and wellbeing of people and the taiao we live in.
Resources
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Learn how to do your own hautapu
Learn how to prepare and carry out your own hautapu. Follow the instructions, including karakia words and audio. -
Matariki Karakia Booklet
This booklet produced by Te Arawhiti, features karakia written by Tā Pou Temara and Professor Rangi Matamua, equips us with the relevant knowledge to understand the traditions of Matariki.