What's on in Auckland? Celebrating our first Matariki public holiday
Friday, 10 June 2022
Aotearoa is set to mark Matariki for the first time as a public holiday on Friday, June 24.
Matariki is the Māori name used to describe the entire star cluster also known as Pleiades.
It is also the name given to the time when the star cluster in visible in our night skies – also known as Māori New Year.
Before sunrise during New Zealand’s winter, the cluster is visible as a faint sparkle of tiny dots when you look towards the northeast horizon.
**READ MORE:
* Matariki: The best overnight hikes for stargazing
* Five planets and the Moon to align in time for Matariki
* How Stacey Morrison is making the most of Matariki
**
Here’s what’s happening in Tāmaki Makaurau to commemorate this significant moment in New Zealand culture.
Matariki Festival 2022
With more than 80 events in store across Tāmaki Makaurau this Matariki, Auckland Council and Ngāti Whātua Ōrakei’s Matariki Festival will take place from June 21 to July 16.
Starting with a pre-dawn karakia, the festival will include different aspects of te ao Māori for people to learn and embrace. Events include traditional kite flying, musical performances, rongoa Māori classes (Māori healing) and visual art, there is something for everyone to enjoy.
“Matariki is a time for us all to come together to pause and reflect on the past year, and to acknowledge our loved ones who have passed on,” Ngāti Whātua Ōrakei chairperson Marama Royal said.
“It is also a time to prepare for the year ahead so being together with whānau and friends to wānanga and talk amongst each other is important at this time.”
More can be found here.
Matariki Ki Waiparaera
Bring the whānau along to Catherine St, Henderson, where Te Whānau o Waipareira are celebrating the start of Māori New Year with Matariki ki Waipareira.
The street party will run from 5pm to 8.30pm, and will include live music performance from Ria Hall, Te Rōpū Manutaki, Kōtuku, Te Wharekura o Hoani Waititi Marae and more.
Chief Executive John Tamihere said it was about time Matariki could be properly celebrated.
“We have been through some challenging times and finally we can celebrate Matariki ki Waipareira with our people in West Auckland,” he said.
“Not only is this an opportunity to heal, to set new goals and aspirations, it is also supporting our local kai traders who have been doing it tough. Everyone is welcome.”
Te Karanga ā Hape
Te Karanga ā Hape will take place down Karangahape Rd on Thursday, June 23, with a super-diverse schedule of live music, art, performance, fashion, food and markets.
This year’s event theme is Autuahineraa, or Sisterhood, celebrating the mana of wāhine and honouring Whaea Matariki and her celestial daughters as they begin their annual journey across the heavens.
More can be found here.
Matariki Glow Show
For the tamariki, the Matariki Glow Show is on now until Saturday, July 23, with performances in Tāmaki Makaurau until June 15 and then a final show on July 21.
This upbeat show promises to educate, entertain and engage audiences about Matariki for over 50 minutes with patai (Q and A) afterwards. Shorter shows of 30 minutes are designed for those aged 5 and under.
Event times and locations around Auckland and wider New Zealand can be found here.
Matariki Lights at Stardome
An immersive light and sound installation will illuminate the meaning of Matariki in a free nightly show at the Stardome Observatory and Planetarium.
Matariki Lights at Stardome will run from June 19 to 25. The display will include moving pillars of light with waves of sound from taonga pūoro to celebrate the traditional phases of Matariki celebration.
The show carries viewers through three stages – honouring those who have passed away over the previous year; the coming together of whānau and friends to celebrate and share kai; and lastly looking ahead to the coming year, with respect and consideration of nature.
The light show will run four times an hour between 6.30pm and 7.30pm on weekdays and 6.30pm and 9pm on Saturday and Sunday.
The Lion King Reo Māori
We’ve all seen The Lion King – many of us grew up with it. Now Simba’s tale is available for a new generation, this time in te reo Māori.
The Lion King Reo Māori is the second Disney film to be reversioned in te Reo Māori, by Oscar-nomiated filmmaker Chelsea Winstanley and Tweedie Waititi of Matewa Media.
The first, Moana, was released in 2017. Matewa Media is also set to release the te reo version of Frozen in September.
Screening times and locations around Tāmaki Makaurau can be found here, kohanga reo are encouraged to contact their local cinema directly.
First Light – New Zealand String Quartet National Tour
The New Zealand String Quartet will head out on their 2022 National Tour entitled First Light. Reflecting on life, loss and rebirth, the programme is a musical embrace of Matariki.
“Looking ahead to a new beginning always encompasses the past and our Matariki First Light programme reflects Aotearoa NZ’s forward-looking musical culture alongside its European musical roots,” violinist Gillian Ansell said.
First Light is made up of three curated programmes: Reflection, Regeneration and Release.
Familiar favourites by Schumann, Mozart and the father of the string quartet, Haydn, are given fresh perspectives when paired with introspective works by Natalie Hunt, Lyell Cresswell, Grażyna Bacewicz and more.
More information can be found here.