The Puaka Matariki Festival is unique to Ōtepoti Dunedin, marking the Māori New Year through a citywide programme of community and digital events, celebrating this midwinter season of wānaka (learning) and whanaukataka (community spirit) in person and on the digital marae.
In bygone days, Tākata Māori observed the rising of the lone star Puaka or the Matariki cluster of stars as the beginning of the New Year: the harvest season had ended and winter days were best spent indoors. This alignment of calendars to the rising of either celestial body is ancient and occurs all around Moananui-a-Kiwa, the Pacific.
