Name: Matariki: Bringing our stars to life — A hands-on learning experience — Part of Matariki 2026 series
Start: 2026-05-26T05:30:00+12:00
End: 2026-05-26T06:30:00+12:00
Location: Corner Molesworth and Aitken Streets, Thorndon, Wellington, New Zealand 6011

$Matariki: Bringing our stars to life \u2014 A hands-on learning experience \u2014 Part of Matariki 2026 series$

The rising of the Matariki star cluster and Puanga signal the start of the Māori New Year. This programme will introduce you to how Matariki connects us to people, to whānau and to the seasons of te taiao (the natural world). Tīhei, mauri ora!
Experience the magic of Matariki
Nau mai, te whetū o te tau! Join us for our special Matariki event.
Using a whāriki star map and special glowing pīataata (star globes), come and share the magic of Matariki mā Puanga this Hōtoke season. We will sit around a giant 7 metre mat, learning about the different qualities of each whetū (star) and what they relate to in nature.
It is beautiful to make the star globes glow in different colours, respresenting the Matariki star cluster. We’ll mihi, sing and tuku karakia to our loved ones who have passed and make wishes to Hiwa-i-te-rangi for the year ahead!
Booking is not required — you can just turn up on the day.
Suitable for all ages
We have three sessions intended for different age groups, but all ages are welcome to each intergenerational session:
10am to 11am: Pre-schoolers welcome
12pm to 1pm: Any age, pakeke (adults) welcome
3:30pm to 4:30pm: School-aged tamariki and whānau
About the presenters
Educators from the National Library of New Zealand Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa will share how Te Kāhui o Matariki connects us to people, to whānau and to the rhythms and seasons of the natural world.
Ko Matariki e, te tohu o te tau. Ko tēnei, he kaupapa ātaahua ki te hāpai ngā mahi e whakawhānui ana te mōhiotanga o Matariki mā Punga ki Aotearoa whānui.
With the knowledge and Mātauranga Māori shared by Te Wānanga o Aotearoa and our team at He Tohu Tāmaki, ‘Matariki: Bringing Our Stars to Life’ connects us to Ngā Atua Māori, the pūrākau of Matariki (e ai ki te kōrero o Te Whare Wānanga o Aotearoa) and how we honour this season of the Maramataka.