Published on : Monday, May 27, 2019
Attracting more than 140,000 participants to more than 100 events, the annual festival has become a highlight on the region’s calendar.
Now in its 19th year, the ‘Māori New Year’ festival of events will host an array of arts, culture, food and community activations from Wellsford to Waiuku.
“Matariki Festival gives us an opportunity to celebrate something that is uniquely Māori,” says Festival Director Ataahua Papa.
This year’s festival dawn ceremony will take place at Pukekawa, Auckland Domain, on 22 June at 6am.
The iwi also have an art exhibition at Fresh Gallery Ōtara that explores whakapapa (genealogy), heritage and land. Taamaki ki raro will run until 3 August and feature works by Fred and Brett Graham as well as King Tuheitia’s second son, Korotangi Paki.
There will also be a Tirotiro Whetū night programme giving the public an opportunity to star gaze from the traditional waka hourua (double canoe), Aotearoa One, out on the water and away from the city’s light pollution.