At first light on Maungakiekie last week, Stardome was gifted its new name—Te Whatu Stardome—in a ceremony led by Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei.

The renaming marks a major milestone in the observatory’s journey to embed Indigenous knowledge alongside modern science.

Artist Graham Tipene designed the new tohu featuring the pūhoro pattern, symbolising movement, navigation, and journeys guided by the stars.

Chief Executive Kelly Bewley says the name captures their uniqueness in the world.

“Our manuhiri, our visitors, will have an experience from this place, and they know that they are in Aotearoa, Tāmaki Makaurau, and not an observatory or Planetarium in another part of the world. Everyone has been carrying it for quite a few years, and it’s great to get to this point where we can finish the journey with the guidance and the tautoko and the privilege to carry the name gifted to us from Ngāti Whātua Ōrakei,” says Bewley.

Te Whatu Stardome now joins a select group of planetariums worldwide carrying Indigenous names.