Celebrations leading up to Matariki have begun as Aotearoa looks set to mark its newest public holiday for the second time.

A nationwide poll conducted for Te Papa showed that 50% of all New Zealanders took action to mark Matariki in 2022. 19% of the New Zealand population looked at the Matariki star cluster in the night sky 11% went to a community Matariki event 11% went to a Matariki event for whānau or friends 11% watched a Matariki event online or on television 3% went to a hautapu ceremony 12% took some other action to learn more about Matariki NB: adds up to more than 50% because of people doing multiple activities.

Preparations are well underway for a Matariki hautapu ceremony to be held on the 14th July on Ngongotaha in Rotorua.

“Matariki Kāinga Hokia - Matariki calls you home” is the theme of this year’s Matariki awareness campaign launched today. Creative agency, Mahi Tahi is pleased to once again be working with New Zealander of the Year, Rangi Matamua who has developed the theme and messaging for this year.

The path towards the rising of Matariki has been laid at an event in Takapō (Lake Tekapo) on Thursday.

Celebrations leading up to our second Matariki public holiday kicked off at the Dark Sky Sanctuary in Lake Takapō today with the launch of a booklet containing karakia for each of the nine stars of Matariki.

New Zealander of the Year and Māori astronomer, Professor Rangi Mātāmua, created the resource after getting lots of requests.