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Legislation to create the annual Matariki public holiday has passed its third reading,
Associate Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Kiritapu Allan say it will be the first national holiday to recognise and celebrate mātauranga Māori.
She says Matariki is a time of unity, renewal, celebration, and hope.
The holiday will always fall on a Friday and will shift slightly each year to align with the maramataka or the Māori stellar-lunar calendar.
The first holiday, as determined by the Matariki Advisory Group chaired by Professor Rangiānehu Matamua, will be on Friday, June 24.
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