Update: Read Glenn McKay’s message of Friday 28 June.
Twinkling in the winter sky just before dawn, Matariki (also known as the Pleiades cluster) signals the Māori New Year. This year Matariki rises above Aotearoa on Tuesday 25 June!
Matariki literally means the ‘eyes of god’ (mata ariki) or ‘little eyes’ (mata riki). There are a range of explanations of Matariki by iwi across New Zealand. One version is that when Ranginui, the sky father, and Papatūānuku, the earth mother, were separated by their children, the god of the winds, Tāwhirimātea, became so angry that he tore out his eyes and threw them into the heavens.
Traditionally, festivities followed the harvesting of crops so Matariki was a time for family and leisure.
We’re celebrating Matariki this year with a range of events to suit everyone. All events are open to staff and students – take a look below and schedule time in your diary to join the celebrations!
Join in the Matariki celebrations at Unitec!
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| 28 June 12pm |
Hāngī: Enjoy a delicious feast cooked in the traditional Māori way. Order deadline extended to midday Wed 26 June. Pick up on Friday 28 June at 12pm from the wharekai. Following a karakia to officially open our Matariki celebrations you’re invited to stay to enjoy your lunch with the group.
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| 1 July 10am – 2pm |
Wānanga/mini-symposium, at Te Noho Kotahitanga marae. Run by Ngā Wai a Te Tuī, Māori & Indigenous Research, discussing Pūrakau and Indigenous Storywork: Research, Pedagogy & Practice. Also showcasing and an opportunity to purchase the book ‘Decolonizing research: Storywork as methodology’ edited by Jo-ann Archibald, Unitec’s Jenny Lee-Morgan and Jason DeSantol. Very limited spaces so registration is essential.
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| 2 July 10am – 12pm |
Raranga whetū (weaving stars) – Mt Albert: Join Kaitiaki Taiao and expert weaver Tanya White and a group of ECE students in the Māori Student Space in Te Puna, to learn the Māori traditional art of weaving.
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| 2 July 5.30pm |
Opening of Te Tātai o Matariki exhibition in Gallery 1, Building 1. Beautiful art and design works by Unitec’s near, recent and past Māori graduates.
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| 3-26 July 10am – 4pm |
Te Tātai o Matariki exhibition runs week days, in Gallery 1, Building 1.
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| 3 July 10am – 12.30pm |
Guided Hikoi: Join Pouroto Ngaropo (Chairperson of local hāpu, Ngāti Awa ki Tāmaki), and our Unitec whanau on a hikoi, to hear stories of the whenua. Light refreshments provided. Please register.
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| 4 July 10am – 12pm |
CANCELLED Raranga whetū (weaving stars) – Waitākere: Join Māori Student Council Rep Mereana Kiore and Kaitiaki Taiao Tanya White at the student common space to learn the Māori traditional art of weaving.
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| 4 July 12.30 – 1.15pm |
Screening of Te Iwa o Matariki film – Waitākere: Staff and students are invited to view the short film, produced by Te Wānanga o Aotearoa: Te Iwa o Matariki based on the insights by Dr Rangi Matamua, a leading astronomer who has been researching Matariki for over 30 years and believes that Matariki has nine visible stars.
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| 5 July 12 – 2pm |
Launch of Māori Success Strategy and re-launch of Pacific Success Strategy, in Ngākau Māhaki (wharenui) AND screening of short film Te Iwa o Matariki: Te Tumu and Executive Director Student Success Glenn Mckay and Director Pacific Success Falaniko Tominko in Ngākau Māhaki will share the purpose, drivers, goals and actions of these two important strategies, and how we can all contribute to its success. Followed by a special screening of short film Te Iwa o Matariki, and light refreshments in Manaaki ( wharekai).
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Other events and resources
Auckland Council is also running a three-week Matariki Festival from 22 June to 14 July. Check out the schedule. Of interest to many of our Unitec whānau is the Te Manaaki o te Marae photographic exhibition at Māngere Art Centre, which provides a snapshot of the whānau and Manaaki Tangata programme at Te Puea Memorial Marae. This kaupapa is an exhibition of the ‘Te Manaaki o Te Marae’ research project led by Ngā Wai a Te Tūī, Māori & Indigenous Research.
If you’d like to find out more about Matariki, our library team has created a Matariki Guide with links to a range of useful online resources.
the guided hikoi link doesn’t work so I can’t book in or is it full?
Hi Pauline, thank you for your message. Apparently there has been a problem with the form for some people, not everyone, which IT has looked into, so please try again and contact us directly if it still isn’t working. The event is not fully booked yet.