Specially curated online screenings of Māori kiriata (short films), a stairway of Matariki stars in Freyberg Square and pop-up kapa haka performances at Britomart’s Takutai Square are among the highlights this week for Matariki Festival.
Reaching out to communities, local events this week include guided walks through native forest in Papakura or Ōtuataua Stonefields and exhibitions at Waiheke Community Art Gallery, Lake House Arts Centre (Takapuna) and Corban Estate Arts Centre (Henderson).
Te Kaunihera o Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland Council) presents Matariki Festival to the Auckland region until 15 July.
Search for events near you at matarikifestival.org.nz/whatson
This week’s highlights:
Māori short films online
Matariki on the Move: Kiriata showcases the first collection of Māori short films this week, many of which have screened at film festivals around the world but are rarely seen at home. Watch out for: Hinekura, PaPa, Patu Ihu, Take, Natalie and Yellow Roses, which will be available to watch until Tuesday 30 June.
Presented in collaboration with CineMāori.
Te Taumata Kapa Haka live at lunchtime
Visit Takutau Square at Britomart to view an exhibition of lightboxes (from 22 June) and watch live, lunchtime performances (from 29 June) as part of Te Taumata Kapa Haka.
Grab an earth-oven cooked hāngi lunch (from Tuesday 30 June) then sit back and enjoy some of Auckland's best kapa haka.
Proudly supported by Britomart.
Stairs in the square take starring role
The names of seven Matariki stars written in te reo Māori grace the steps leading up from Freyberg Square.
Supported by Heart of the City, the installation Te Ara Matariki brings the Matariki kōrero to one of the busiest parts of the city centre during the festival.
The Matariki stars also play a leading role in Vector Lights for Matariki Festival, with a story of nine Matariki stars showing on the Auckland Harbour Bridge every half hour from 6pm until midnight from 24 to 28 June, 4 to 5 July and 10 to 12 July.
Matariki Festival is proudly hosted by Te Kaunihera o Tāmaki Makaurau in collaboration with Waikato-Tainui, with the support of Vector Lights (principal partner) and Britomart (supporting partner).
