Matariki ki te Manawa

Overview

A giant new installation along Queen Street celebrating Matariki is set to take Aucklanders on a journey through the past centuries, honouring the narrative of our kaupapa and the history of Tāmaki Makarau.

Matariki ki te Manawa (Matariki at the heart) is a super-sized lighting and sculptural experience illuminating the city centre, with light shows, markets, music, kapa haka, art, kai and much more running from Tuesday, June 21 until Saturday, July 16.

If you need to start your Matariki journey learning more about the celestial element, head to downtown square Te Komititanga, where the front facade of the Chief Post Office will be transformed into a giant light show teaching us about each star in the Matariki cluster.

Then make your way to the intersection of Queen and Shortland Street, where a bespoke gateway /waharoa will mark the point where the land once met the sea — with each plane on the sculpture telling a different story. As you head up Queen, you'll find more of Tūrama, a light installation from artists Graham Tipene (Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei, Ngāti Kahu, Ngāti Hine, Ngāti Haua, Ngāti Manu), Ataahua Papa (Ngāti Korokī Kahukura, Ngāti Mahuta) and Angus Muir Design. See works by these celebrated local artists, including sculptural birds — some with wingspans of more than four metres — erected on crosswires above the street.

Along the street, there are QR codes taking Aucklanders to the deeper narrative for each element. There are 25 events and installations all up which can be found through the city centre headed towards Aotea Square, so rug up warm and head in to check it out this Matariki.