Published on : Thursday, May 9, 2019
The festival begins each year just before the break of dawn as Matariki, or the Pleiades, rises above the horizon.
Presented by Te Kaunihera o Tāmaki Makaurau, in partnership with mana whenua, the festival celebrates the Māori new year and new beginnings.
Historically, Māori navigators were guided to Aotearoa by the stars, including Matariki, with crews using masterful wayfinding and voyaging techniques passed down through generations.
Those themes will be woven throughout the festival.
Aucklanders and visitors, especially families with children, are being encouraged to celebrate the richness of the city’s Māori identity by coming together for Matariki Festival, the leading Matariki celebration in Aotearoa.
Tags: auckland, Matariki Festival