Matariki Dawn Planetarium Show

Overview

Matariki rises in mid-winter, bringing with it the dawn of the Māori New Year. Literally translated as the 'eyes of god' (mata ariki) or 'little eyes' (mata riki), traditionally the brighter the star cluster, the more plentiful the coming season's harvest.

In recent years Matariki has been more widely celebrated, with more on offer as each year passes. The Matariki Festival is the perfect mid-winter festival to light up the city - throw off those blankets and go and explore the vast array of events on offer.

It wouldn't be Matariki without the stars. Catch a glimpse of the stars of Matariki up close in the 360-degree planetarium — it's the perfect Matariki Festival date night.

Learn about the Māori new year during a show featuring Māori myths and stories. Don't be fooled by the name, you won't need to drag yourself out of bed in the wee hours of the morning, the show starts at 7pm.