The Matariki Festival programme for 2025 launches today (20 May) at matarikifestival.org.nz.
This season’s programme celebrates wai (water), with a whakataukii at its heart:
Waitaa ki te Maanuka,
Waitii ki te Mangatangi,
Waipuna ki te Rangi.
Ngāti Tamaoho, in partnership with Te Kaunihera o Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland Council), is proud to present Matariki Festival for their second year as iwi manaaki (partner iwi).
Ngāti Tamaoho invites Aucklanders and visitors to be drawn to the cultural, environmental, and spiritual significance of water, guided by a reflection on three stars in the Matariki star cluster in particular.
Waitaa is the star of the sea and ocean, Waitii is the star of fresh water, and Waipunarangi symbolises rain.
For Ngāti Tamaoho, Waitaa connects through Te Maanukanuka o Hoturoa (the Manukau Harbour), Waitii connects through the Mangatangi Awa (a river flowing through the Hunua Ranges) and Waipunarangi connects with the rain bringing life to their fertile lands in the southern part of the Auckland region - Pukekohekohe.
Matariki Festival is a celebration of the Māori New Year for all to enjoy across Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland. This year it spans five weeks from 7 June to 13 July.
Matariki Festival, known as Matariki ki te Wai in 2025, will see Ngāti Tamaoho hosting cultural activities, community events, water blessings and storytelling focused on their whakapapa (genealogy) and kaupapa (purpose).
Regional celebrations, with community events, exhibitions and workshops will take place across the Auckland region with Matariki ki te Manawa in the city centre. These activities will bring local iwi, environmental groups and artists together.
Matariki Festival closes with a concert featuring Māori artists to celebrate the promise of the new year.
Head to matarikifestival.org.nz for the full festival line-up.
Te Hui Ahurei o Matariki (Matariki Festival Day) on 20 June celebrates the rising of the Matariki star cluster above the horizon in the north-east skies at dawn.
The city centre with the most visibility of te ao Māori (Māori worldview) in its streetscapes in the world, will light up at around this time also, with a full programme heralding the Māori New Year.
