Matariki magic
As the Matariki star cluster rises, it marks the beginning of the Māori New Year, a time for reflection, celebration, and reconnection with the environment and cultural traditions. From feasting to stargazing, there are plenty of ways to celebrate with friends and whānau.
MATARIKI GLOW SHOW
The Matariki Glow Show returns in 2025, touring Aotearoa with a magical, educational puppet performance for the whole family. This year’s show follows the star whānau of Matariki as they light the skies for the Māori New Year – except one small star, Waipuna-a-rangi, has gone missing in the moana. Told in te reo Māori and English, the show brings myths to life with stunning visuals, promoting friendship and togetherness. It’s a heartwarming, unforgettable experience for tamariki.
8 June, Isaac Theatre Royal isaactheatreroyal.co.nz
THE TANNERY MATARIKI FOOD MARKET
Celebrate Matariki with food, music, and community spirit at The Tannery. The Atrium transforms into a festive dining space, where you can gather under fairy lights to enjoy a feast prepared by local retailers. Come for the flavours, stay for the live music and warm hospitality. This is your chance to honour Matariki with friends, whānau, and the wider Ōtautahi community.
20 June, The Tannery Emporium thetannery.co.nz
MATARIKI IN THE ZONE
Mark Matariki at a family-friendly event in the Ōtākaro Avon River Corridor, hosted by the Richmond Community Garden, Avebury House, and the Avon-Ōtākaro Network. Enjoy food, music, workshops, and other activities - plus a hāngī prepared by Tuahiwi Marae. Don’t miss the Matariki star installations, made by local community groups, up until 2 July. Free fun includes seed bombs, scavenger hunts, and a special planting hosted by the Christchurch City Council Red Zone Rangers.
21 June, Richmond Community Garden richmondcommunitygarden.co.nz
LOUISE PŌTIKI BRYANT: WHAKAHĀ
Experience Whakahā, a powerful performance by Louise Pōtiki Bryant (Kāi Tahu, Kāti Māmoe, Waitaha), inspired by her reflections on Cyclone Gabrielle. The work explores the stillness before the storm – an intimate pause before Papatūānuku exhales. Part of A Time of Waiting, a national series of performances and installations examining quiet actions as forms of resistance and reflection.
25 June, Christchurch Art Gallery Foyer christchurchartgallery.org.nz
STARRY NIGHT ADVENTURES
Have you ever wanted to stare right into the centre of our galaxy with your naked eye and be able to see the structure and colour held within it? AuthenticAs offers private, guided night adventures in Queenstown, where guests can take a tour of the heavens, through science, story, and professional photography. With a background in astrophysics, hosts Simon and Emma bring the night to life, creating space for wonder, reflection, and memory beneath some of the darkest skies in the world. Their Starry Night Adventures invite you to slow down, look up, and reconnect – with the sky, the land, and each other. Each tour is unique, shaped by the moment and the guests. There’s no script – just an open sky, curious minds, and a camera ready to capture memories.