What is Matariki?
Every year in the middle of winter, the Matariki star cluster rises, ushering in the Māori New Year. It represents a time to gather with whānau and friends, reflect on the past, honour the present and look forward to the future.
Matariki is a star cluster, commonly known as the Pleiades. In Māori tradition, the Matariki cluster is often associated with nine stars, though some regions acknowledge seven, according to Te Papa. The nine stars are: Matariki, Tupuārangi, Waitī, Waitā, Waipuna-ā-Rangi, Tupuānuku, Ururangi, Pōhutukawa, and Hiwa-i-te-rangi.
Traditionally, Matariki was a time to honour ancestors, celebrate the harvest, and acknowledge the changing seasons, and many modern traditions continue to be guided by these principles.
This year’s theme
This year’s theme is Matariki Herenga Waka For everyone
The theme is all about inclusion and unity. People are encouraged to come together to learn, to share and to celebrate Matariki and the Māori new year.
‘Matariki herenga waka’ is an adaptation of the proverb ‘Tāmaki herenga waka’ which means ‘Tāmaki the gathering place of many canoes’. Tāmaki is the name for the greater Auckland area, and today it is home to many people from across the globe. In 2026 the National Matariki celebration will take place in Tāmaki and will be hosted by Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei.
The phrase Matariki herenga waka honours the connection to the Tāmaki region while at the same time highlighting the relationship between Tāmaki, Matariki, and canoes. Auckland is often referred to as the city of sails and Matariki is part of a large star constellation called ‘Te Waka o Rangi’ the canoe of Rangi. However, the deeper meaning of this phrase is, Tāmaki is a home to everyone and Matariki has a connection to all people.
How to celebrate Matariki
Matariki is a time where people, whānau, and communities gather together. There is no right or wrong way to mark this time, but Te Papa has some suggestions. These include remembering loved ones who have passed away, enjoying a mid-winter feast with friends and whānau, recording your hopes for the year ahead, and getting outside before sunrise to spot the Matariki stars.
Where to look
To see the Matariki star cluster, the best time is early morning between 5:30am and 6:30am, weather permitting. The stars can be seen for several days around this time. Look towards the eastern horizon before the sun rises, and follow these steps to find Matariki:
- Find three bright stars in a line. Māori call these stars Tautoru; they are also known as Orion’s belt (often known as the pot).
- Next, trace to the left of Tautoru until you come to a group of stars that look like a pyramid. This is Te Kokotā.
- Finally, if you look to the left of Te Kokotā you will see Matariki.
Live broadcast
Live from Takaparawhau (also known as Bastion Point) overlooking Auckland Harbour, coverage of Matariki will begin at dawn.
Hosted by Stacey Morrison and Mātai Smith, this year’s live Mānawatia a Matariki broadcast runs from 6:00am – 11:00am on June 20.
Featuring a traditional hautapu ceremony, kapa haka performances, live music and discussions on the history and significance of the occasion, it will be available to view on matariki.net.nz and across a number of media and broadcast channels including TV One.
A public holiday
Matariki was first celebrated as an official public holiday in New Zealand in 2022. The date will change from year to year, but it will always fall in June or July, with the next five years being 25 June (2027), 14 July (2028), 6 July (2029), 21 June (2030) and 11 July (2031).
While the day is an official public holiday, there are no trading restrictions, so stores and hospitality businesses can still open. Hospitality businesses may add a 15 per cent surcharge on the day to cover the costs of paying employees time-and-a-half, but it must be clearly communicated.
