Fly a kite from the tihi (summit) of a volcano believed to be 105,000 years old, witness weaving designs celebrating the stars in the north, plant native trees in a day of renewal in the south, hear music from the rooftops in the west, walk a famous Matariki light trail in the east and witness light installations telling ancient stories of place in the city centre.
Ngaati Tamaoho presents Matariki Festival 2025 in partnership with Te Kaunihera o Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland Council). With 90 events on offer from 7 June to 13 July, Matariki Festival is inspiring generations across the Auckland region.
Read about the Pou events of Matariki Festival on Our Auckland. Further highlights across Auckland:
Ruaruawhetū – Weaving Design Celebrating the Stars
Enjoy raranga (weaving) from sixteen artists at Depot’s Artspace Gallery in Devonport.
Coming from across the motu, artists will share their knowledge in an artists’ talk and workshops. Within the exhibition, you are invited to experience different weaving patterns embracing the stars of Matariki. From 14 June 2025 to 26 July. More details on the Matariki Festival website.
Ihumaatao Rākau Planting
Plant native trees during Matariki at Ihumaatao in a powerful act of renewal, resilience and kaitiakitanga. As the Maaori New Year signals a new growing season, planting reconnects the community with ancestral traditions and restores traditional food systems.
More than growing kai, this practice nurtures the whenua and collective wellbeing, ensuring future generations inherit a thriving, culturally rich environment. Sunday 22nd June, 10am-2pm. More details on the Matariki Festival website.
Whakamahere ki te wai – charting freshwater ways
Join a self-guided digital walking journey honouring the star Waitii. You’ll connect with the freshwater ways of central Auckland via a pukapuka or digital app, learning through prompted activities.
After exploring the history of our waterways, you’ll end your journey at Te Wharekura on the waterfront to learn more from mana whenua. Visit the Matariki Festival website for more details.
Te Ara Rama Matariki Light Trail
Experience Te Ara Rama Matariki Light Trail, now in its 11th year. This annual, free outdoor lighting festival combines light, music and creativity across nine themes representing the stars of Matariki.
The light trail runs for four nights – celebrating, giving thanks for the harvest and remembering loved ones. Through illuminated imagery, you will hear place-based stories, karakia and waiata within a modern context. Come to Maybury Reserve, Glen Innes. Wednesday 25 June - Saturday 28 June, 6pm-9pm. Check out the Matariki Festival website for further details.
Titirangi Matariki Rooftop Celebrations
Come to Lopdell Precinct in Titirangi for a vibrant, community-focused event celebrating Matariki through live music, kapa haka, storytelling, kai and cultural stalls.
This inclusive event brings people together to honour the significance of Matariki while fostering cultural connection and awareness. With the stunning backdrop of the Manukau Harbour, people will connect with the festival’s theme Matariki ki te Wai. Friday 20 June 2025 - Sunday 6 July, 1pm-7pm. More details at the Matariki Festival website.
Soaring light installations tell ancient stories of place
Matariki ki te Manawa – Matariki at the heart - will illuminate and energise the city centre of Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland until 13 July.
Tūrama Te Wehenga Moana in Queen Street.
Wrap up warm and walk along city centre streets and lanes in the evening light and you’ll see soaring light installations telling ancient stories of place through the lens of Māori who thrived in this area in centuries past, a beautiful crochet-crafted rendition of a wharenui (meeting house), a giant-sized classic children’s book taking two children to turn the pages, neon manu (birds) with electric plumage perched in trees and lots more.
Matariki ki te Manawa is proudly delivered by Te Kaunihera o Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland Council) and supported by the city centre targeted rate as part of Matariki Festival.
Puketāpapa Manu Aute Kite Day - Matariki
In Mount Roskill, people of all ages will be able to fly a kite from the tihi (summit) of a volcano believed to be 105,000 years old. At Pukewiwi / Puketāpapa, 1109 Dominion Road, kites will fly above Auckland on Sunday 6 July, 11am-3pm.
Head to matarikifestival.org.nz for the full event line-up
This story acknowledges the iwi dialect of our festival partner Ngaati Tamaoho and their preference for double vowels in written te reo Maaori.
