Matariki Festival Announces Stacked 2017 Program

While the transition from December 31 to January 1 is generally considered the time to flip the calendar and reevaluate your shredding goals for R&V, in Māori culture the dawn of a new year aligns with the rise of the Pleiades constellation, otherwise known as Matariki. Appearing late May or early June, the constellation was once used for navigation and timing the seasons. Now, its more commonly recognised as a time to honour Aotearoa's Māori identity, to reflect, look forward and connect with friends and whānau.

To mark the occasion, every year Auckland Council presents Matariki Festival — a three-week program of events. This year's festivities will run from 10 June – 2 July, citywide.

The festival opening weekend will begin with a Matariki Dawn Karakia on Saturday 10 June. Aucklanders are invited to join host iwi Ngāti Manuhiri at Tāwharanui Regional Park to welcome in the Māori New Year. As night rolls in, a posse of illuminated bikes, wheelchairs, skateboards will embark on a journey along the waterfront as part of aerial dance-theatre, InMotion Matariki.

The after-hours entertainment will continue with outdoor light show, Whetū Marama, at the Auckland Town Hall. The show is a collection of Māori patterns, starscapes and landscapes by the late storyteller Peter Gossage. Manu Aute Kite Day will take place on Sunday 11 June, when kites of all shapes and sizes fly to symbolically connect the realms of the heavens and earth, and for the second year, Matariki-style street party Te Korakora will ignite Federal Street with Māori inspired food and traditional music and dance.

Other highlights include a pop-up stardome to teach the art of navigation, Matariki light shows Stellar and Te Ara Rama and performances from the country's most successful kapa haka groups.

For more information about Matariki Festival, visit www.matarikifestival.org.nz.

Image: Serena Stevenson, Auckland Council