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Matariki ki Pōneke

Nau mai, haere mai – celebrate Matariki, the Māori New Year, with a stunning series of live and digital experiences.

Burning braziers floating in water at night.

Nau mai, haere mai. Wellington City Council invites you to Matariki ki Pōneke, to celebrate the Māori New Year. Enjoy a stunning free whānau experience, with a fabulous Matariki Fireworks display.

Matariki is a time for remembering the past, celebrating the present, and looking to the future.

Matariki ki Pōneke includes our free Ahi Kā and Matariki Fireworks events.

Food trucks will be on-site on the fireworks night only. To support local businesses, we encourage you to grab a bite to eat in the city on our other Matariki ki Pōneke evenings.

Exhibitions

There are still a number of Matariki themed installations and exhibitions to enjoy around the city:

The Courtenay Place Light Boxes feature Whakapapa te Pō te Ao from 28 May, beautiful works by artist Tanya Te Miringa Te Rorarangi Ruka.
The Waituhi flags, and a mural on the Frank Kitts park waterfront doors, feature designs by artist Tane Morris.
Masons Screen

Highlights from Matariki ki Pōneke Festival 2021

Performers wearing abstract fish masks, lit by glowing lights.

A crowd of people seated at picnic tables outdoors at night.

A decorative entranceway lit with LCD panels displaying artwork.

Children play in a grove of trees lit up with strings of glowing lights.

Two performers on stilts, adorned with lights and feathers.

Spotlights shine into the night sky above a beach with waves in the foreground.

A young boy stands next to an explosives plunger while fireworks go off in the background.

A crowd of people in the foreground watching a fireworks display over the water of a harbour.

Fireworks exploding over a harbour at night.