Ōtepoti Dunedin
Puaka and Matariki are rising – have you seen them? Come by Otago Museum’s pop-up at the Golden Centre to learn how to find them, what they mean for us here on Earth, and what they can tell us about the life cycles of stars.
This event is presented by the New Zealand International Science Festival.
Long, cold winter nights may seem like the perfect time to stay indoors, but that’s also when our southern skies really shine, so Otago Museum invites you to bundle up and join us outside to celebrate Puaka Matariki!
For two evenings, we’ll open up Lab-in-a-Box on the Museum Reserve to share our favourite astronomical stories, stargaze, and deliver hands-on demonstrations about the science of starlight.
In partnership with the Dodd-Walls Centre
5:30pm – 8pm, Friday 17 – Saturday 18 July
Museum Reserve (Hutton Theatre if inclement weather)
Celebrate the Puaka Matariki Festival with a visit to the Perpetual Guardian Planetarium for the film Light of the Stars: Mārama ā-Whetū, which explores Māori sky lore, myths and legends relating to the southern night sky.
The show is narrated in English and tells the story of the Polynesian explorers who navigated across the ocean to Aotearoa New Zealand, highlighting New Zealand’s most significant astronomical features.
Restricted to ages 3 and up.
Children under 14 must be accompanied by an adult.
10.30am daily, Monday 13 – Sunday 19 July
Perpetual Guardian Planetarium
Adults $12, Children $7
This year Dunedin Public Libraries – Kā Kete Wānaka o Ōtepoti is celebrating the start of the Māori New Year with Puaka on Sunday 12th July, then Matariki from Monday 13th – Monday 20th July.
Puaka Matariki is a time for us to reflect on life, the physical world, remember the past and our hopes for the future.
Join us daily on our website and Facebook page as we examine a different star in the Matariki cluster and what significance it has for us in our work in the library.
Ngā Whetū:
| 1. Puaka 12 July | Kia manawanui – Be steadfast |
| 2. Matariki 13 July | Whakarāmemene – Come together |
| 3. Pōhutukawa 14 July | Maumahara – Remember |
| 4. Waitī 15 July | He reo waitī – Harmony |
| 5. Waitā 16 July | Ngākau whakaute – Respect |
| 6. Waipuna-ā-raki 17 July | Whaiwhakaaro – Reflect |
| 7. Tupuānuku & Tupuāraki 18 July | Hauhake – Harvest |
| 8. Ururaki 19 July | Tā te manawa – Breathe |
| 9. Hiwa-i-te-raki 20 July | Tūmanako – Hope |
Puaka Matariki is a time for celebration, reflection, sharing knowledge, and preparing the soil for the next harvest.
This colder time is also a great excuse to come to the Makerspace tables and get crafting. Get creative making your own Puaka Planisphere greeting card and a super cool Twirly Whirly.
These self-guided, family-friendly activities are a great way to spend an hour, or three!
All day, Monday 6 – Friday 17 July
Atrium Level 1
Check out our galleries for inspiration then get stuck into a Matariki-inspired activity at the Makerspace tables.
Atrium Level 1, Otago Museum, 419 Great King Street, Dunedin
Monday 8 July to Friday 12 July, 10am – 5pm. FREE
Contact 03 474 7474 otagomuseum.nz
For pre-contact Māori, the best times for the cultivation and harvesting of food were marked by bodies visible in the night sky. The passing of years, seasons and months were signalled by prominent stars and the phases of the moon. Join a Museum Guide and take a closer look at how traditional food and natural resources were managed in Te Waipounamu through our displays and see how mahika kai continues today through the lens of Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu’s Mahinga Kai films.
Southern Land, Southern People Gallery, Otago Museum, 419 Great King Street, Dunedin
Weekends, Saturday 29 June to Sunday 21 July, 2pm. FREE
Contact [email protected] 03 474 7474 otagomuseum.nz
Mārama ā-Whetū: Light of the Stars explores Māori sky lore, myths and legends relating to the southern night sky. The show tells of the Polynesian explorers who navigated across the ocean to Aotearoa New Zealand, and highlights New Zealand’s most significant astronomical features.
Perpetual Guardian Planetarium, Otago Museum, 419 Great King Street, Dunedin
Friday 28 June, 6.30pm.
Weekends, Saturday 29 to Sunday 7 July, 11.30am. $10 adult, $7 child (3‒18 years)
Concession offered with ID, combos available for daytime sessions
Tickets available online or from the Otago Museum Shop
Contact 03 474 7474 otagomuseum.nz
Mārama ā-Whetū: Light of the Stars explores Māori sky lore, myths and legends relating to the southern night sky. The show tells of the Polynesian explorers who navigated across the ocean to Aotearoa New Zealand, and highlights New Zealand’s most significant astronomical features.
Perpetual Guardian Planetarium, Otago Museum, 419 Great King Street, Dunedin
Friday 28 June, 6.30pm.
Weekends, Saturday 29 to Sunday 7 July, 11.30am. $10 adult, $7 child (3‒18 years)
Concession offered with ID, combos available for daytime sessions
Tickets available online or from the Otago Museum Shop
Contact 03 474 7474 otagomuseum.nz
Piki mai, tautimai! Brockville School invites their community to join in celebrating Puaka Matariki beginning with karakia and waiata, then kapa haka, shared kai and company, and learning about the stars of the season.
Brockville School Hall, 263 Brockville Road, Brockville
Friday 28 June, 8.30am. FREE
Contact [email protected] 03 476 3717