Mānawatia a Matariki
Matariki is the Māori name for the cluster of stars that rises in midwinter, also known as Pleiades.
For many Māori, it heralds the start of the new year.
In 2026, the Matariki period runs from 8 to 14 July, with the official national public holiday falling on Friday 10 July. This year’s theme is ‘Matariki herenga waka | Matariki is for everyone,’ which is about inclusion and encouraging all people to celebrate Matariki together.
The three key principles of Matariki are: remembrance (honouring those we have lost since the last rising of Matariki); celebrating the present (gathering together to give thanks for what we have), and looking to the future (looking forward to the promise of a new year).
How to engage
- Viewing: The best time to see the Matariki star cluster is in the early morning just before dawn, ideally between late June and mid-July.
- Watch live online: The national broadcast of Matariki hautapu ceremony will be shown live online on 10 July from 6am to 11am. You can watch the official live Matariki broadcast across multiple major networks, including TVNZ 1 and TVNZ+, Whakaata Māori and Māori+, as well as on the official Matariki website at matariki.com.
- Resources & traditions: To learn more about the lunar calendar and the meaning behind the nine stars, visit the Te Wānanga o Aotearoa Matariki Hub at matariki.twoa.ac.nz or the National Matariki Guide at matariki.com.
