For ngāi Māori, Matariki as a harbinger of the new year is a celebration of new beginnings. With manawa translating as heart, Matariki ki te Manawa becomes a timely and fitting metaphor for a city centre in recovery after the past two challenging years.

From Tuesday 21 June to Saturday 16 July, te pokapū o te taone (the city centre) will be illuminated by more than 25 installations and activations for Matariki ki te Manawa, in a collaboration between Te Kaunihera o Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland Council, Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei and Heart of the City.

Pakiata Matariki – lightshow at Te Komititanga
Pakiata Matariki lights up on Friday 24 June at Te Komititanga, Auckland’s public space at the lower end of Queen Street, where the waters of Te Waitematā once flowed. Here, 37,000 pavers have been laid in a pattern designed by manawhenua weavers, depicting a traditional whāriki (woven mat) made from harakeke (flax).

From 24 June – every 15 minutes from 6pm to 9pm — Tāmaki Makaurau will witness a super-sized story of Matariki shining on a 55 x 32-metre section of the wrapping on the historic Central Post Office building, home to the Britomart Transport Centre.

This bespoke lightshow is a collaborative work created by Hana Maihi (Nga Oho, Te Taou, Te Uringutu, Ngati Whatua, Tainui waka, Ngati Paoa, Te Kawerau a Maki, Ngai Te Rangi),  Poi Ngawati (Ngati Hine, Tainui waka) and Ataahua Papa (Ngāti Koroki Kahukura, Ngāti Mahuta) with music by Te Reo Lepou (Ngāpuhi, Te Rarawa, Hāmoa), Waipounamu Silbery (Te Rarawa, Tainui, Kāi Tahu) and Ese Aumalesulu (Hāmoa).

Pakiata Matariki is in celebration of the first indigenous public holiday in the world, with the opportunity to discover the deeper significance of Matariki and learn about each of the nine stars in the Matariki cluster.   

Tūrama – bringing light to Queen Street
Tūrama is an open invitation to all of Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland to revisit and re-imagine the Waihorotiu valley, lighting up from Tuesday 21 June.

The Tūrama journey starts at the intersection of Queen and Shortland Streets with a uniquely designed and crafted waharoa denoting where the waters of Waitematā and Wai o Horotiu merged.

On display will be unique forms of art, light, scale and life that have been developed for Tūrama by the creative team of Angus Muir Design, Graham Tipene (Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei, Ngāti Kahu, Ngāti Hine, Ngāti Haua, Ngāti Manu) and Ataahua Papa (Ngāti Koroki Kahukura, Ngāti Mahuta).

As you walk up Queen Street, there will be artworks inspired by icons of Māori art and design and many birds, some with wingspans of more than four metres, soaring on crosswires high above Queen Street.

Adding to the atmosphere will be the shimmering waters of Te Waitematā and Wai o Horotiu, projected onto footpaths. And closer to Aotea Square, an eight-metre-tall representation of resident kaitiaki figure, Horotiu, will begin to come into view.

From the karanga of Hape, welcoming early waka voyagers centuries ago, to the invitation from Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei to William Hobson, establishing the settlement of Auckland in 1840, to our modern city form, the Waihorotiu valley remains the heart of Tāmaki Makaurau.

Twenty-five special events and activations
Along with the lightshows and artworks, Matariki-inspired works of art will be on display at galleries and public spaces, and music, kai, workshops and markets are planned for Britomart, Commercial Bay, Te Tōangaroa and along the waterfront.

The newly refurbished Aotea Centre will host a celebration of dance with Māui, by Freshman’s Dance Crew, as Aotea Square becomes a celebration of the fire of the goddess Mahuika.

Matariki is a time for reflection on the year just gone, for remembering loved ones who have passed, and for coming together with whānau and sharing kai, kōrero and waiata.

This city centre series of activations are part of the region-wide Matariki Festival brought to the city by Te Kaunihera o Tāmaki Makaurau and iwi partner Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei.

For more details and updates on these events visit Our Auckland.