Renowned local storyteller Kaitrin McMullan will entertain, amuse and delight Dunedin kindergarten children, teachers and whānau with Puaka Matariki stories from around the Pacific. Kindergartens will invite families and wider community to attend special gatherings, and depending on the time of day they will go outside and look for the ‘super stars’ of the sky.
Contact your local kindy – Bayfield, Halfway Bush, Port Chalmers, Richard Hudson, Rotary Park, Saint Clair, Wakari – for details.
Mana Manaaki Puawai o Ōtepoti – Dunedin Kindergartens
Tuesday 5 June to Friday 6 July; various times – each kindergarten will host the story teller at a time to suit them. FREE
Nau mai, haere mai! The wider Brighton community is invited to join our Puaka Matariki celebration. Our school kaumatua will lead our kapa haka with blessings and waiata, and the tamariki will decorate Brighton Hall and help prepare the evening’s hākari of hāngī and pig on a spit when they will share with whānau what they have learnt about the significance of the winter stars.
Hāngī tickets available from the school – $25 per whānau.
This year, we are excited to be holding our very special Matariki Celebration in the evening! Our school children will prepare for Puaka Matariki through sharing stories, language, art and music. The event begins with a lantern parade to the chapel where each class and group will share their learning with whānau and the community. Our kapa haka and choir will perform then we will follow the lanterns out of the chapel. A wonderful time for our school whānau and community!
John McGlashan College chapel, 2 Pilkington Street, Māori Hill
Piki mai, tauti mai! Brockville folk are invited to Brockville School to celebrate Puaka Matariki with songs, video, art work and stories, followed by shared kai of soup and bread prepared by the whole school and served by the senior students.
Brockville School Hall, 263 Brockville Road, Brockville
Throughout July, Dunedin City Library will have the honour of screening the Ngāi Tahu Mahinga Kai and Ngā Ringa Toi o Tahu series of short films, celebrating what it is to be Ngāi Tahu in an exploration of the creative artistry and traditional practices of the iwi.
Brought to you by Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu. Repeat screenings daily.
GigCity Living Hub, Ground Floor, Dunedin City Library, 230 Moray Place, Dunedin
Our school Whānau Hui group invites parents, grandparents and the wider Port Chalmers community join in a breakfast celebration of the Māori New Year, to share the stories of Koputai and the new beginning of Matariki. The learners of Port Chalmers School and their whānau will be creating a stone and rock mural designed by local artist Manu Berry which relates the story of Matariki, each stone or rock sharing a sense of whanaukataka (belonging).
Port Chalmers School Hall, 30a Albertson Avenue, Port Chalmers
To welcome in the Māori New Year, the Kavanagh College Kapa Haka will perform in celebration of the rise of the Matariki star cluster. Nau mai, tautimai!
Dunedin Public Art Gallery, 30 The Octagon, Dunedin
Celebrate days gone past with special Puaka Matariki portraits, professionally photographed by Imeleta Caldwell. Dress up in provided traditional and vintage Māori and Settler costume, and bring along any taoka or vintage items you wish to include in your 8×10 portrait. Brockville School pupil art works will make a suitably starry backdrop!
Brockville School Learning Centre, 263 Brockville Road, Brockville
Saturdays and Sundays, 7‒22 July, 10am ‒ 5pm. $25 per sitting
The creation of Manu Tukutuku (traditional Māori kites) is a cultural practice that has been associated with the rise of Puaka and Matariki for centuries in Aotearoa.
Join Ngāi Tahu kaiako Wetere Home and Rachel Solomon-Gould for a demonstration of the techniques and mātauraka (knowledge) used to create a large Manu Tukutuku, then make your own small version with raw materials gathered from the ecosanctuary. This is a fun, family-friendly event where participants can immerse themselves our local Ngāi Tahu culture in celebration of Te Tau Hou, the Māori New Year. Nau mai, piki mai!
Get involved in the Puaka Matariki Festival with this fun workshop in contemporary Māori dance with one of Aotearoa’s most acclaimed dancers. All levels of dance experience welcome.
