Culture Compass

The rise and rise of Matariki as a national celebration has been the best thing to happen to winter – and Aotearoa – since the arrival of the electric blanket. Among the many grim errors of colonisers was the steamrolling of established Māori rituals and traditions that aligned with te taiao (the environment) in favour of clinging to mismatched iconography like white Christmas (no pun intended). Now though, there are hundreds of celebrations and events throughout the motu to mark the rising of the Matariki constellation, only a few of which we’re able to highlight here. Look into what’s happening near you and embrace the rituals and practices of tangata whenua, and our connection to the natural world. Mānawatia a Matariki.

In Tāmaki Makaurau, Matariki celebrations kick off early, including one event at Kāhui St David that celebrates woven wearable art. PAPA – Papatūānuku | Whakapapa on June 7 will showcase garments by 15 artists that are made with harakeke, natural fibres and upcycled fashion waste. This free public event includes movement, music and intergenerational storytelling that draws attention to both the incredible craftsmanship in these garments – some of which have taken a year to make – and the ancestral stories they carry within them.

Auckland Council, with iwi partner Ngāti Tamaoho, has an abundant roster of events for their five-week long Matariki Festival 2025, June 7 – July 13. Among the many treasures in this festival is a collaboration between the Auckland Philharmonia and singer/songwriter Ria Hall. Matariki with Ria Hall, June 19 at the Auckland Town Hall, will have Hall performing some of her most stirring waiata including the 2021 APRA Silver Scroll winner Te Ahi Ka Po, with a full orchestra for the first time. It’s touted to be a magical one-off evening of te reo Māori music combined with classical instrumentation.

The Wellington Comedy Club is celebrating Matariki less with rising stars of the cosmos and more with rising stars of comedy at their Matariki Showcase. On June 19, Li’i Alaimoana (2017 Billy T nominee); Mamaeroa Munn (2023 Wellington Comedy Awards Best Newcomer); Viki Moananu (2023 Wellington Raw Comedy Quest finalist); Lianne Karaitiana (2020 Wellington Raw Comedy Quest finalist); and te reo Māori and English magician Aperahama Wairau-Mason will perform an evening of uniquely Aotearoa comedy (and magic) at Te Auaha. MC’d by Kajun Brooking, this is a Matariki celebration with the lightest of hearts and limited tickets.

Also in Pōneke over the Matariki long weekend, Wellington City Council’s Matariki Ahi Kā event is embracing the darkest evenings of the year with an illuminating walk-through experience on the Wellington Waterfront. Using fire, projections, performances and the Mana Moana Pōneke water screen, it’s a whānau-friendly event that’s free and open each night of Matariki weekend, June 19 – 22. The Mana Moana Pōneke water screen will also be operating over the two weekends prior to Matariki weekend, showing indigenous short films from 6-9pm in Whairepo Lagoon.

Image credit: A Call to Kāinga, Dr Karlo Mila & Michael Bridgman. Photography: Jeff McEwan.

In Nelson there’s a large-scale all day festival called Te Huihui-o-Aotearoa on the Matariki public holiday, June 20. Held in Trafalgar Centre and Rutherford Park, there’s a Matariki market and performances by soul singer Louis Baker, Imani-J, Naia Awatea and two soloists from Te Kuru Marutea, the People’s Choice Award winners at Te Matatini whose spine-tingling performance went viral earlier this year. The festival also includes Taka Kara Tīpuna, the regional secondary school kapa haka competition and performances by the primary school kapa haka finalists. In the evening, a truly 21st century spectacle will tell the ancient story of Matariki with a drone show designed by Ngā Iwi e Waru o Te Tauihu-o-Te Waka-a-Māui.

June 7 is a hot date in the Matariki calendar with many local festivals commencing that day, including Christchurch City Council’s Matariki celebrations. Tīrama Mai is the main free event, June 18-22, being held at multiple venues throughout the city and featuring storytelling, projections, light installations, film, music and performances. Beyond celebration and entertainment, Matariki presents an opportunity for a deepened cultural education, and CCC has multiple workshops in its slate of events on things like tī rakau and poi, porotiti making and harakeke wall hanging. The Christchurch City Libraries are hosting bilingual storytimes, after school activities, a whānau fun and wellbeing day on June 21, and dune planting. And the Pōhutukawa exhibition provides visitors with the opportunity to engage with one of the key pillars of Matariki: the honouring of those who’ve passed. 

Further south, Ōtepoti Dunedin is hosting the Puaka Matariki Festival, June 14 – July 12. Named after the star Puaka (Rigel) that for Kāi Tahu carries more significance than the Matariki cluster, the festival programme is unique to the region, featuring hautapu dawn ceremonies, storytelling, art, kai, kapa haka, and star-gazing. Highlights include an advanced screening of New Zealand film Kōkā; Cake Fest Ōtepoti – Matariki Edition; a Matariki drone show; and a celestial journey on Dunedin Railways’ Stargazer into the Taieri Gorge, a repeat of the sell-out event from last year’s festival.