Celebrate Matariki this June as it heralds in the Aotearoa New Year
Tuesday, 16 June 2015 by Mark Sandiford
Auckland is seemingly the epicentre in New Zealand for festivals
- from film festivals to comedy and now the Matariki festival
2015. Move-over Chinese New Year, Matariki is here to celebrate
Aoteroa's very own New Year in June and the festival will bring
with it around 100 events taking place in multiple locations and
communities across Auckland.
June the 20th, the point at
which the Pleiades star cluster (Matariki) rises above the Auckland
sky. This will herald Te Tau Hou (Māori New Year) and with it the
regions biggest celebration of indigenous Maori culture with
events, celebrations and activities from kapa haka, kite flying,
film, food and much more.
Matariki Festival
2015 is a month of
celebration and includes fun, entertainment, culture and activities
including live music, film, theatre, art exhibits, food
demonstrations, star gazing, kapa haka and a modern take on the old
Maori tradition of kite flying.
What is
Matariki
The rising of the star
constellation Pleiades also known as Matariki is an important time
in the Maori calendar - it heralds in the Maori New Year and is a
time to connect and give thanks, in most instances to the elements
that sustain us - the land, sea and sky.
Popular before the arrival
of Europeans in New Zealand, Matariki celebrations were ongoing in
the 1900s before gradually diminishing with the last traditional
festivals recorded in the 1940s.
More recently Matariki
celebrations have well and truly been revived with festivals and
celebrations spanning many areas of the country, with Auckland's
Matariki festival dedicating a full month to celebrating, exploring
and discovering more about Matariki and Maori culture in
general.
Matariki - world
famous
Matariki is the Maori name
for the Pleiades, a star cluster in the constellation Taurus and is
internationally recognised as it can be viewed from anywhere in the
world and acts as a key navigation beacon for ocean voyagers as
well as an important signal for seasonal change the world
over.
The recognition this cluster holds spans the globe and is also
incorporated into everyday (driving) life. In Greece several major
temples face straight towards Matariki as does Stonehenge in
England. In Japan the Subaru brand is the Matariki stars.
Star gazing - how to find
Matariki
Keep an eye out from early
to mid June and onwards. Matariki rises on the northeast horizon, a
little to the west (left) of where the sun rises.
The best time to spot Matariki
in Auckland is about one hour before dawn, from about 6.30am.
Binoculars will help first-time spotters.
How to enjoy Matariki - the
Festival
On the 20th June the
Matariki Festival will begin with a dawn karakia and conclude with
Manu Aute Kite Day. This variety proves that during the 30 days of
celebrations that there will be something for everyone to
enjoy.
To get your cultural fill
this winter why not enjoy some of what the Matariki festival
has to offer and if you are
from out of Auckland, fear not the Kiwi International
Hotel has a range of accommodation options to suit you. Whether
travelling on your own, as a couple or a large family the Kiwi International Hotel has a budget conscious
option that puts you in the heart of Auckland city with easy
commuter access to all parts of the city.
Simply arrive, explore and enjoy.