Kia ora koutou. The Māori New Year has always been celebrated with the rise of the star cluster Matariki. It marks the beginning of the Aotearoa/Pacific New Year according to the lunar calendar. In 2021, the stars set on 2 Pipiri / June, and rise 2 to 5 Takurua / July.
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Here's what's on at libraries, and around Ōtautahi.
Matariki at Christchurch City Libraries
Matariki Wānaka, Matariki Takiura - Matariki Whānau Fun Day
Saturday 19 June 10am to 2.30pm
Tūranga
Nō reira nau mai tauti mai ki te whakanui o Matariki 2021 ki Ngā Kete Wānaka o Ōtautahi. Look, learn, listen and do at our free whānau fun day. Join us and take a fresh look at Māori oral traditions, practices and customs associated with Matariki. We'll have bilingual storytelling, crafts, loads of cool tech stuff and everything you ever wanted to know about stars. Our special focus this year is the Guardian stars of Matariki: Pōhutukawa, who cares for the afterlife, Hiwa-i-te-Rangi, the inspirer of aspirations and Matariki, the Mother, the nurturer.
Ko te tumanako ka kite koe i reira.
- 10am to 12noon – Arts & crafts with the Māori Library Services Team
- 11am – Robot demo from Auahatanga L4
- 12noon – storytelling with Whaea Justice
- 1pm – Loopy Tunes
- 2pm – Korikori tinana | song and dance with Whaea Justice
Location: Tautoru | TSB Space, Hapori | Community, Level 1, Tūranga.
Matariki Wā Kōrero - Storytimes
Wednesday 2 June to Tuesday 29 June
Various libraries
Celebrate Matariki with us! Meet others in our community when you and your pre-schooler join us for a fun variety of stories, songs and rhymes which foster children’s literacy. All whānau and caregivers welcome.
Free, no bookings required
View events in our calendar
There is also a Matariki Ngā Pakiwaitara - Bilingual Storytimes at Tūranga on Tuesday 15 June 10.30am to 11am.
Matariki Craft
Wednesday 2 June to Friday 2 July
Various libraries
Celebrate Matariki, the Māori New Year with special Matariki crafts. Crafts include:
- Create a paper globe and star box to take home.
- Create a card using the wooden Māori motifs in the building
- Decorate a star to either take home or hang up in the library.
Free, no bookings required
View events in our calendar
Matariki After School Activity Zone
Tuesday 15 June
South Library
Come and send your hopes and dreams to Hiwa-i-te-Rangi by making a Matariki Star Wand at our After School Activity Zone.
Free, no bookings required
View events in our calendar
Matariki in Ōtautahi
Search the Christchurch City Council What's On for Matariki events, including:
Matariki at Sumner
Saturday 19 June 1pm to 3pm
Matuku Takotako: Sumner Centre
Sumner Community Residents Association (SCRA) and the library will be celebrating Matariki. There will be wishing stars and Matariki card making. Book a spot in a weaving workshop facilitated by Giarne Harrison.
Book a place in the free Matariki Whānau craft workshop
Kōrero about tātai aroraki / astronomy with Victoria Campbell
Thursday 24 June 6.30pm to 7.30pm
Rehua Marae
Find out more on the Rehua Marae Facebook page.
Tīrama Mai
25 June to 11 July
Various locations, Central City / New Brighton
Tīrama Mai, meaning to illuminate or bring light, celebrates Matariki, our people and our unique local landscape. Christchurch’s central city and New Brighton will be transformed with a series of innovative lighting installations, projections and illuminated artworks created by some of Canterbury's best lighting artists and creative minds. Explore the lighting trails from Friday 25 June until Saturday 10 July, between 6pm - 11pm every night. Installations will be located around The Arts Centre Te Matatiki Toi Ora, Worcester Boulevard, Ōtākaro Avon River, Riverside Market, New Regent Street, Victoria Square and New Brighton Pier.
Tīrama Mai is proudly produced by Christchurch City Council and will conclude with a Matariki fireworks display on Saturday 10 July in New Brighton.
Rehua Marae Matariki Whānau Fun Day
Saturday 26 June 11am to 2pm
Nau Mai Haere mai. Bring whānau and mokopuna to Rehua Marae to celebrate Matariki.
Kapa haka, Craft Stalls, Food Stalls, Hangi, Free Workshops, and Entertainers.
The library will be there with Matariki Wā Kōrero - Storytimes and crafts.
Subscribe to the Facebook event
Matariki Celebration
Ōpāwaho Heathcote River Network
Friday 2 July 4pm to 7pm
South Library
The Ōpāwaho Heathcote River Network is holding a celebration of Matariki in partnership with Christchurch City Council on Friday 2 July at South Library. Come join this free event to celebrate Matariki and our connection with the Ōpāwaho Heathcote River.
Events include storytelling, harakeke earring making, crafting, waiata, a presentation on special native fish, and a barbeque.
More from the Ōpāwaho Heathcote River Network.
Matariki dawn planting
Sunday 4 July 6.45am to 8am
More about Matariki dawn planting
Matariki family planting at Rōngoa Garden
Sunday 4 July 10am to midday
More about Matariki family planting
Matariki Night Mākete
Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 July 5pm to 9pm
The Arts Centre Te Matatiki Toi Ora
Māori artists and craftspeople, as well as local stall holders, will be showcasing their art and crafts. The Matariki Night Mākete will offer entertainment and activities for a fun whānau night out.
More about Matariki Night Mākete
Matariki Kai
Saturday 10 July 5pm to 8pm
25 Brighton Mall
Subscribe to the Facebook event.
Matariki Fireworks Spectacular
Saturday 10 July 6pm to 7.30pm
New Brighton Pier
Round up your whānau and join us for Ōtautahi-Christchurch's first ever Matariki light and fireworks display!
Matariki in the Zone
Saturday 17 July 2.30pm to 7.30pm
Avebury House and Richmond Community Garden
Once again Avebury House, Richmond Community Garden and Avon-Ōtākaro Network present a fun, winter-warming event by the Ōtākaro-Avon River Corridor. There will be live music and dancing. We'll have activities for kids big and small - rock-painting, wood-carving, flax-weaving, marshmallow-toasting and more. The delicious hāngi will be raised at 4.30pm. It will be served alongside a boil-up, vegetable soup, fried bread, hot chocolate and booze-free mulled wine. Coffee Skills Mobile will be there too, and a sausage sizzle.
The Light Fantastic River Bike Ride will be back at 6pm, and star-gazing in the nearby red zone. As the sun goes down, the lights will come up.
More about Matariki in the Zone
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