Puaka Matariki Festival

In Ōtepoti Dunedin we celebrate the Māori New Year through a diverse citywide programme of community events. The return of the lone star Puaka and the star cluster Matariki to our pre-dawn midwinter skies heralds the time to come together to share stories, pass on knowledge and learning, remember the dear departed, and plan for the year ahead. Communities will gather to celebrate the season at shared feasts, at fun and educational programmes presented by public institutions such as our galleries, libraries, archives and museums, and through a wide range of Mātauraka Māori science lectures and Toi Māori visual arts, music and dance performance events.