Puaka Matariki Festival
Matariki is a time for remembrance, honouring those we have lost since the last rising of Puaka and Matariki. It is a time to celebrate the present, gathering together to give thanks for what we have. It is a time to look to the future to the promise of a new year.
It is a celebration unique to Aotearoa New Zealand, rich in heritage and meaning.
Here in Ōtepoti Dunedin, we mark this special time with a festival unlike any other - one that weaves together the stories, traditions, and aspirations of our community in a citywide programme of community events.
Puaka mā Matariki
Unique to our region, the festival acknowledges both Puaka (Rigel) and Matariki (Pleiades) - stars that signal the Māori New Year across different iwi.
Both Puaka and Matariki rise in the eastern sky before the sun during the winter period, however in Kāi Tahu tradition, Puaka is the primary marker. Together, they guide us into a season of reflection, celebration, and hope.
For more information about Matariki www.matariki.com
Mānawatia a Matariki!