Ōtepoti Dunedin
Nau mai, haere mai ki te hāpori Waitete! Welcome the midwinter Māori New Year with Waitati School at their annual community lantern parade and hāngī. BYO cup, plate, kai utensils, and long lighters. Dress for the weather!
Waitati School, 1121 Mount Cargill Road Waitati
Thursday 7 July, 5.30PM. FREE
RSVP for catering numbers
Contact: 034822888 | office@waitati.school.nz
The MATARIKI GLOW SHOW is back with an all-new, giant-scale puppet show for tamariki, educators and whānau. The Glow Show’s magical glow-in-the-dark characters will celebrate their first-ever Matariki holiday with you! This huge, upbeat show ‘edu-tains’ and engages the audience, with pātai afterwards. Proudly presented by Little Green Man Productions.
The Regent Theatre, 17 The Octagon Ōtepoti Dunedin
Saturday 2 July, 11am. $18.50 – tickets at the box office
Contact: Sarah@glowshow.co.nz | 021772106 | regenttheatre.co.nz/project/wonderland-glow-show
Celebrate Te Tau Hou Māori and the potential in everybody! StarJam supports rakatahi with disabilities across Aotearoa to unleash their creativity and connect with their peers through the magic of music, dance and performance. Local Jammers are proud to share their recently workshopped pieces in this special showcase, themed around stars, whānau and coming together. Nau mai, tauti mai – everyone is welcome to enjoy the performances and stay for a disco!
Te Whare o Rukutia, 20 Princes Street Ōtepoti Dunedin
Thursday 30 June, 6.30‒8pm. $5 – bookings recommended
If you can, please consider paying a ticket forward
Contact: Fiona Paine 0220846788 | dunedin@starjam.org
To celebrate Māori New Year David Burchell, Dunedin City Organist plays Norma our beloved centenarian Town Hall Organ in this sparkling showcase of music with a starry theme for Matariki, with something special for the young ones. Tauti mai, whakaroko mai – everyone is welcome!
Dunedin Town Hall, 200 Moray Place Ōtepoti Dunedin
Sunday 26 June, 3pm. KOHA
Contact: fb.com/DunedinTHOT
The Dunedin Astronomical Society are outside Tūhura Otago Museum on the Reserve with solar telescopes. Come and take a look for yourself at the massive flares and sunspots of Tamanuiterā, the Sun. All ages.
Otago Museum Reserve, 381 Great King Street Ōtepoti Raki Dunedin North
Saturday 25 June, 10.30am ‒ 3pm. FREE
Weather permitting
Contact: 034747474 | otagomuseum.nz
Listen to talented and knowledgeable rakatahi Kiringāua Cassidy share stories of his iwi and the legends of this land, including kōrero about the formation of Te Wai Pounamu, the creation narrative from a Kāi Tahu perspective, and the story of the nine Matariki stars. All ages.
Tāngata Whenua gallery Tūhura Otago Museum
Friday 24 – Sunday 26 June, 11am and 12pm. FREE
Contact: 034747474 | otagomuseum.nz
Join us at our famous holiday Makerspace for some special Matariki-themed crafts. Make and decorate a pūrerehua (bullroarer) or fold and decorate an origami wishing star. All materials provided. All ages.
Atrium Level 1 Tūhura Otago Museum
Friday 24 June, 9.30am – 4pm; Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 June, 11am – 4pm. FREE
Contact: 034747474 | otagomuseum.nz
In partnership with Kāti Huirapa Rūnaka ki Puketeraki and Te Rūnanga o Ōtākou, the Dunedin City Council and Tūhura Otago Museum invite Ōtepoti whānui to gather to celebrate the Māori New Year and to welcome Aotearoa’s newest public holiday.
Begin on the Museum Reserve with karakia to mark the return of Puaka and Matariki to the dawn sky and to whakamaumahara or remember our dear departed, through large-scale projections of the stars and changing seasons alongside photos of loved ones who have passed away in the past year. Then come inside for kōrero and waiata and kai-o-te-ata, a free community breakfast.
Dress for the weather! Nau mai, haere mai – everyone is welcome.
Otago Museum Reserve; Tuhura Otago Museum Café, 419 Great King Street Ōtepoti Raki North Dunedin
Friday 24 June, 7‒9.30am. FREE
Contact: 034747474 | otagomuseum.nz
Join Waiariki Parata-Taiapa, our special guest kaikōrero as he shares stories of Puaka and Matariki under the glittering canopy of The Golden Bearing (2014) – a majestic sculpture by leading contemporary artist Reuben Paterson (Ngāti Rangitihi, Ngāi Tūhoe, Tūhourangi). This family-friendly storytime concludes with an opportunity to enjoy a special evening experience in the exhibition Kai tua o te heti / Beyond the Hedge.
Dunedin Public Art Gallery, 30 The Octagon Ōtepoti Dunedin
Wednesday 22 June, 5.30pm. FREE
Contact: 034743240 | dunedin.art.museum
Welcome the return of Puaka and Matariki as Rose Shepard teaches us the art of making lanterns. Decorate your lanterns, made from biodegradable materials, with Te Iwa o Matariki to celebrate the Māori New Year and the rising of both Puaka and the Matariki star cluster.
Gig Table Ground Floor Dunedin City Library, 230 Moray Place Ōtepoti Dunedin
Tuesday 21 June, 4‒8pm. FREE – materials provided
Contact: library@dcc.govt.nz | 034743690 | dunedinlibraries.govt.nz