“Ko Matariki te whetū kei te arahi I tēnei marama, he wehenga tau ki tā te Māori whakahaere.”
“Matariki is the star of the year that leads this month, and divides the year according to Māori understandings”
Each year Matariki – the star cluster Pleiades, rises in the East during the cold months signalling the beginning of the Māori New Year. This year Matariki can be seen on the horizon between 25-28 June. By studying the appearance of the stars, Māori are able to tell whether the coming year would be prosperous, if food would be plentiful and the coming season’s kind. The rising of Matariki is also a time of remembering those who have past away, particularly in the past year and for celebrating the bounties and gifts received in the year that has just passed.
Matariki 2019 at Christchurch City Libraries continues the theme of “Te Iwa o Matariki – the nine stars of Matariki” this year with a focus on “Te Kāhui Kumanu a Matariki – the guardian stars of Matariki: Pōhutukawa, Hiwa-i-te Rangi and Matariki (the Mother)".
Matariki is a time for remembering those that came before us, celebrating all that we have. During June in the lead up to the Māori New Year we’ll be offering a range of whānau-friendly celebrations and activities at our Libraries. We also list below some community Matariki events taking place around Christchurch.
Matariki Toi - Community Art Project in the Library
Each year a community art project runs in our libraries for all to explore their creative side. This year the project is create a star box, a waka or wishing/remembrance star. Materials are supplied, all you have to do is bring your creativity. Programmes are from 3.30 to 4.30pm
- Find a calendar event
Matariki Wā Kōrero: Matariki Storytimes
In addition to our normal Storytimes we have Matariki Storytimes. Come celebrate and welcome the Māori New Year with stories, songs, rhymes and craft activities. All welcome, free of charge.
See our list of Matariki Wā Kōrero - Matariki Storytimes.
Matariki Whānau Fun Days
Celebrate Matariki at our two free whānau fun days! We’ll have art activities, colouring competitions, storytelling, exploring the stars with Skyview and much more!
New Brighton Library
Saturday 15 June
10.30am-3pm
Tūranga – TSB space, Hapori | Community, Level 1
Sunday 30 June
10.30am-3pm
Matariki Kiriata – Family movie afternoon
TSB Space, Hapori | Community, Level 1, Tūranga
Sunday 23 June, 1pm to 3pm
With the generous support of South Pacific Pictures, a special screening of Whale Rider will be held in the TSB Space. All children 12 years or under need to be accompanied by a guardian.
BYO snacks, Free entry.
Subscribe to the Facebook event.
Ngā Pakiwaitara: Bilingual Storytimes with Melanie Drewery
Wāhi Whānau | Family Place, Hapori | Community, Level 1, Tūranga
Tuesday 25 June, 10.30am to 11am
We have a special guest with us this week! Come along to a special Matariki story time with Melanie Drewery. Copies of her book Matariki will be available for sale.
Subscribe to the Facebook event.
Matariki Connect
Our Learning Centres are offering special Matariki Connect sessions for schools, introducing students to the key concepts of Te Iwa o Matariki involving a range of fun activities. Phone 941-5140 for more information.
Find all Matariki events at the library
Other Matariki events in Christchurch
Te Whare Maire O Nga Punawerewere
Monday 10 June – Saturday 29 June, Eastside Gallery, 388 Worcester Street. EASTSIDE’s annual Te Whare Maire O Nga Punawerewere exhibition will coincide with Matariki and run from 10-29 June 2019. This is a gallery sponsored exhibition that showcases a selection of art by Māori artists of all ages. The exhibition will explore ideas around the future of Māori art.
Gallery hours: 11am – 4pm, weekdays; 12 noon – 3pm, Saturdays.
See the Facebook event for more details.
Matariki in the zone – Saturday 22 June
Avebury House
9 Eveleyn Couzins Avenue, Richmond
2.30-7.30pm
Live music from the Natural Magic Pirates and Lisa Tui; activities for kids big and small; a hāngi and soup in the garden; mulled (non-alcoholic) wine and hot chocolate in the house; and then, when the sun goes down, the gardens will be illuminated! We can't wait - mark your calendar!
See the Facebook event for more details.
Matariki in Southshore – Saturday 22 June
Down by the estuary on Plover St enjoy glowing wand making and the marvellous natural magic pirates of New Brighton.
Free Tea coffee and sausages.
Plover St (estuary end)
Southshore
4.30-6pm
See the Facebook event for more details.
Ka Awatea: A Celebration of Matariki, Lyttelton - Sunday 23 June to Sunday 30 June
Matariki is at the heart of Lyttelton’s week-long winter celebration. Led by local hapu Ngāti Wheke, there is a range of events touching on Matariki themes of connection, renewal, tradition and community. All events are free and everyone is welcome and encouraged to come along.
- Find out more on the Project Lyttelton website.
- Like Project Lyttelton on Facebook.
- Subscribe to the Ka Awatea: A Celebration of Matariki Facebook event.
Matariki at The Arts Centre – Tuesday 25 June to Sunday 7 July
The Arts Centre Te Matatiki Toi Ora will celebrate Matariki 2019 with a variety of activities – workshops, mākete (market), speakers, film screenings, kapa haka, family activities and more.
Check their website for a schedule of Matariki events.
Bromley Matariki Celebration – Friday 28 June
Bromley School Hall
33 Keighleys Road
3.30-5.30pm
Free entertainment, free activities, free tea and coffee, free fruit, plus affordable, yummy Māori kai available to purchase! Attendees are invited to donate a can of food if they can spare one for a collection can drive to support local food banks.
See the Facebook event for more details.
Healing Day at Rapaki Marae for Matariki – Saturday 29 June
Ngāti Wheke Marae Rapaki
37 Rapaki Drive
Rapaki
10am to 4pm
Mā te Rongoā Māori E Ora Ai - prosperity comes through Māori healing. This is an opportunity to:
- share matauranga healing practices;
- experience the magic of traditional health;
- receive messages from tipuna gifted by our tohunga;
- explore rongoā to use during winter;
- experience taonga pūoro (sound healing); and
- try Hikitia te Hā (simple Tai Chi).
Rehua Marae Whānau Day – Saturday 29 June
Rehua Marae
79 Springfield Rd
11am-3pm
Kapa haka, Art, Crafts, Food Stalls. The mobile library van will also be on site. See the Facebook event for more details.
Matariki at the Hub – Saturday 29 June
Phillipstown Community Hub
39 Nursery Road
12-2.30pm
Enjoy a hangi and family-friendly activities including stone carving, traditional Māori games demonstration, kapa haka performance and more. Activities are weather dependent, but we hope to have a great day with fun for everyone. Hangi is $5 per person and must be pre-purchased.
See the Facebook event for more details.
Matariki at Mt Pleasant Community Centre - Saturday 29 June
Mt Pleasant Community Centre
3 Mccormacks Bay Rd, Mount Pleasant
4.30–8pm
The first Matariki at the Mt Pleasant Community Centre! Lantern making and a lantern parade outside, a storyteller telling a tale of Matariki, an astronomer and some simple communal kai. Entry by koha, bring the whole family!
See the Facebook event for more details.
Matariki night walk – Saturday 29 June
Explore one of Christchurch’s newest parks by night at this family event. Your guides will point out the special features and creatures that reveal themselves only under the cover of night. We will finish by gathering around the fire to sip hot chocolate and listen to stories.
The walk will take about 45 minutes and is suitable for pushchairs. Dress in warm clothes and sturdy footwear. We encourage you to wear dark, non-rustling clothes – the magic comes alive if we are quiet!
While the event is free, a gold coin donation to the Styx Living Laboratory Trust would be appreciated. Register online. Numbers are limited to 50 people.
Make a lantern
Bring your own handmade lantern or a torch. You can make your own tea light lanterns by attaching string or wire to a jam jar to make a handle. Decorate the jar with coloured tissue paper. Or go to the KidsFest website for more instructions to make your own lantern.
303 Radcliffe Road
Marshlands
6.30pm to 8pm
Matariki dawn and family plantings - Sunday 30 June
Join rongoā practitioners as they celebrate Matariki, the Maori New Year, with a dawn karakia and tree planting as a symbol of new beginnings, at the rongoā garden, Styx. The dawn planting will be followed by a hui where there will be discussion of the plans for this new park. You are welcome to come along and hear the ideas and share your thoughts.
There are two plantings at (dawn) 7am and 10am.
303 Radcliffe Road
Marshlands
7am or 10am
More on Matariki
- Read our post about Te Iwa o Matariki - The Nine Stars of Matariki
- Explore our page on Matariki.
- Read our page on Matariki for kids.
- Find more information on Te Ao Māori and Te Ao Māori for tamariki.
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