Matariki Ahuka Nui – Community Day

A Dunedin community event to acknowledge te tau hou Māori

In partnership with Kāti Huirapa Rūnaka ki Puketeraki and Te Rūnanga o Ōtākou, the Dunedin City Council and Otago Museum welcome everyone to a public event to celebrate the Māori new year.

Join us at 7am for our dawn ceremony celebrating the rise of Matariki. We begin in the Museum Reserve with karakia to welcome Matariki into the dawn sky and whakamaumahara to remember those who have passed away. We then move inside for kōrero and waiata. The ceremony finishes with kai-o-te-ata, a free community breakfast prepared by the Otago Museum Café. Be sure to wrap up warm and bring an umbrella in case of rain.

From 9am, enjoy a community fun day at Otago Museum that includes a range of performances and activities for the whole whānau, including kapa haka, workshops, crafts – including make your own wishing candle, storytelling brought to you by UBS, and much more!

Matariki ahuka nui. The abundance of Matariki

Nau mai, haere mai. Everyone is welcome.

7am – 9am Dawn Ceremony
9am – 4pm Community Fun Day