Courtenay Place
Courtenay Place Light Boxes exhibition ‘Tēnei te otinga tū’, Saturday 8 June – Sunday 6 October, 77-97 Courtenay Place
The 2024 Matariki Courtenay Place light boxes outdoor exhibition celebrates the centenary of local poi manu group Ngā Uki o te Mounga. For over 100 years Ngā Uki have maintained a presence within Te Whanganui-a-tara. During this time the group has morphed through various phases while maintaining clear tribal connections to Te Āti Awa and Taranaki Whānui. This is artist Shannon Te Ao’s second collaboration with the group.
Community Centres
Matariki at the Miramar & Maupuia Community Centre, 11am-1pm, 27 June, 27 Chelsea St, Miramar
Join us for waiata with Terry & Jedd followed by a delicious lunch made by Kaibosh & MMCC Volunteers. Free entry – all welcome
Matariki in Hataitai, 5pm-7pm, 28 June, Haitaitai Centre, 157 Hataitai Rd
Join us for an evening of music, dancing, nibbles, hot drinks, and community spirit. Bring along your dinner and enjoy our space with your family and community!
Matariki Community Lunch, 1pm-2pm, 1 July, Te Pokapū Hapori, 105 Manners St
Free kai and meaningful kōrero reflecting on what Matariki means to you and your whānau through Matariki centred arts and crafts
Matariki Community Potluck, 6pm-8pm, 1 July, Vogelmorn Café Space, 93 Mornington Rd
Nāu te rourou, nāku te rourou, ka ora ai te iwi | With your food basket and my food basket, the people will thrive. What better way to celebrate Te Tau Hou Māori than by bringing some kai and memories from the past year to share with your community. Want to know more? Email Anna: hanu.banas@gmail.com
Matariki: Kēmu, Kumara & Kawakawa, 2pm-5pm, 3 July, Te Whare Hapori o ngā Puna Waiora – Newtown Community Centre, Cnr of Columbo & Rintoul Streets
Join us for some awesome games (kēmu), kōrero (conversation), and whanaungatanga (connection) with your hapori (community). Have some pārekareka (fun) while you sip on some homemade kawakawa/lemon/honey/ginger tea and munch back some kumara crisps!
Frank Kitts Park
WAITUHI flag series: Ngā kai a Matariki, nāna i ao ake ki runga –The food supplies of Matariki, scooped up, 25 June-late August
Local artist Hemi McGregor (Ngāti Rakaipaaka, Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāi Tūhoe) has designed a series of flags for the flag poles at Frank Kitts Park that delve into the interconnectedness of harvesting kai with the setting of the Matariki star cluster and its reappearance in winter, which determines the abundance of the coming year.
Hannah Playhouse
Kōrero Mai: An Evening with Liz Mellish, 5pm–6.30pm, Thursday 27 June
This event offers a unique opportunity to explore the cultural dimensions of Te Whanganui-a-Tara landscape through the insights of distinguished Māori business leader and advisor Liz Mellish MNZM.
Libraries
Matariki and Puanga online reading challenge – Wellington City Libraries, Monday 24 June - late August
Earn digital badges for reading books off a curated Matariki me Puanga booklist. There are two challenges, one for tamariki and one for pākeke on Beanstack. You can pre-register online.
Mānawatia a Matariki me Puanga: July School Holiday Programme, Saturday 6 July - Sunday 21 July
Get ready to dive into the magic of Matariki and Puanga at your local library over the holidays. Plant a seed for Puanga, cosy up for stories and waiata, unleash your creativity with whetū-inspired art, or explore the stars through Virtual Reality. Visit our event calendar for the full schedule of events.
Nairn Street Cottage
Tree of Remembrance, Friday 14 June – Sunday 30 June
Matariki is a time to remember loved ones who have passed. Attach messages for friends and whānau to the beautiful Tree of Remembrance in the Nairn Street Cottage garden.
Nōku te Ao Capital E
Matariki Moves, 10am–12pm, Sunday 30 June
Put on your party outfit and kanikani with us all morning to celebrate Matariki. Music, dancing, and crafts for ages 0-5. Adults $5, children free.
Toi Pōneke
Exhibition ‘Aho Hononga’, Friday 28 June – Friday 9 August
This six-week exhibition celebrates mana whenua ringatoi of Te Whanganui-a-Tara. It has been created in partnership with mana whenua of Ngāti Toa Rangatira, Te Atiawa and Taranaki Whānui descent.
Pū Rākau Cube Art Trail - Pū Rākau Mataono Ara Toi, 27 June – 18 July
Pū Rākau Mataono makes learning the Māori alphabet and stories enjoyable and engaging for tamariki and whanau. Augmented reality brings the Atua come to life with moving image and sound that reinforce their story and character. Find them at Toi Pōneke Arts Centre (61 Abel Smith Street), Tahiwi (113 the Terrace), Te Wharewaka (1 Taranaki Street), Circa Theatre (2 Taranaki Street), Te Wāhi Āwhina (117A Manner Street),Te Whakaaturanga o te Aro Pā (115 Manners Street).
Whakairo Demonstration, 11am–1pm Saturday 29 June
See toi whakairo (the art of carving) in action by Whareahuru Gilbert (Te Āti Awa, Ngāti Toa Rangatira, Ngāti Raukawa and Ngāti Tama) - one of the artists featured in the Aho Hononga exhibition at Toi Pōneke Arts Centre (Friday 28 June – Friday 9 August).
Creative Jewellery workshop, 1pm–3pm, Saturday 6 July, Studio 30
Artist Keri-Mei Zagrobelna is hosting ‘Making with the Maramataka’, a fun hands-on workshop, making pendants or earrings from shells, beads, polymer clay etc. Keri-Mei will share and discuss the benefits of creativity, hauora, mental health, well-being, and its relations with the maramataka. This workshop is now fully booked. For a wait list place, e-mail artscentre@wcc.govt.nz.
Te Aka Tawhaito – Te Reo Māori Season, 2pm and 4pm, Friday 19 July, Toi Pōneke Dance Studio
A free children’s theatre show performed in te reo Māori by Taki Rua productions.
Artist’s Talk – Aho Hononga, 12pm–1pm, Saturday 27 July
Join artists Keri-Mei Zagrobelna, Kōhai Grace, and Vianney Parata as they discuss the works in the exhibition Aho Hononga and their respective artforms.
Kōwhaiwhai Painting Demonstration, 1pm–3pm, Saturday 27 July
Visit the Toi Pōneke gallery to see Keanyn Arthur (Ngāti Toa Rangatira, Waikato-Tainui, Ngāti Maniapoto, Rangitāne o Wairau) and Kauia Moriarty (Ngāti Toa Rangatira, Ngāti Koata) doing some live painting inspired by the painting practice - kōwhaiwhai.
Space Place
Mānawatia-a-Matariki, 5am–7am, Tuesday 11 June and Tuesday 18 June
Celebrate Puanga ki Matariki with a special planetarium show, kai, and early-morning stargazing (weather permitting).
Hākari Below the Stars, 5pm–9pm, Thursday 27 June
Space Place’s annual Matariki celebration returns with musical performances from Te KuraHuia and Casual Healing, star talks, tamariki activities, and kai.
Matariki Lantern Making, 10am-5pm, Friday 28 June – Sunday 30 June
Visit the craft station at Space Place during the long weekend, where you can weave your own lantern to mark the Māori New Year.
Astronomy on Tap, 8pm–10pm, Thursday 25 July
Space Place’s monthly Astronomy on Tap transports you from Pōneke to the depths of the universe with bespoke star talks. This event celebrates Matariki and takes a closer look at the ātaahua star cluster. Sit back and relax in our full-dome digital planetarium as we explore the night sky together.
Te Papa
Matariki Kōrero: Expert Talks, 6, 13, and 17 June
Throughout June, guest speakers will chair a weekly series of free Matariki talks about kai Māori practices connected to taonga from the Te Papa collection. Guest speakers include Tumai Cassidy, Puke Tīmoti, Rereata Mākiha and whanau.
Taikura Kapa Haka, 9am-6pm, 29-30 June, Soundings Theatre, Level 2
Taikura Kapa Haka brings together over 700 kaumātua from regional and marae-based rōpū throughout the motu to Te Whanganui-a-Tara during Matariki. This weekend is a celebration of traditional performing arts and rich mātauranga which our koroua and kuia share during 15-minute kapa haka performances.
Te Toi Mahana
Matariki in the Māra @ Pukehīnau flats, 11am–2.30pm, Friday 28 June, the lawn of Pukehīnau flats
All Te Toi Mahana residents and whānau welcome. Harakeke planting, winter gardening, shared kai, kids activities, carving unveiling, and kōrero about Matariki.
Matariki feast @ Central Park flats, 10.45am–2.30pm, Saturday 29 June, Central Park community room.
All Te Toi Mahana residents and whānau welcome. Shared kai, stalls, entertainment, Tākaro Māori - Māori games and activities for all ages.
Wellington Gardens
Matariki with Wellington Gardens, Monday 17 June – Friday 21 June, Otāri-Wilton’s Bush and Wellington Botanic Garden ki Paekākā
Keep an eye out for events at our gardens, with rāranga wānanga, titiwai hīkoi and more.
Wellington Museum
Matariki at the Museum, 10am–5pm, Saturday 1 June – Monday 1 July
Visit Wellington Museum for a drop-in pōhutukawa star craft. To learn more about the museum’s special storytelling event, visit the Wellington Museum website.